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Nelling, Inc.

F r e n c h   D o l l s

page  1, 2

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Bru Teteur 13"

Size 2 $7800.

A very young Bru bebe with the Circle Dot head featuring the Teteur open mouth and inside head mechanism that enabled the action of drinking from a bottle.  This done by turning the metal key at the back of the head, applying pressure to the rubber water compartment in the head and allowing the passage of fluid from a special glass bottle.

This lovely example has deep brown paperweight eyes and palest bisque with her original lambskin platinum wig, pierced ears, swivel neck, head and shoulder marked with "2" and a very clean leather body with bisque hands (one patch to leather at top of right leg).  Her infant gown and bonnet are antique cotton and lace with pale blue ribbon accents to compliment the blue underdress, and around her neck is a simple bone teething ring.

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All  Original Steiner Fre. A Bebe $4850.

How we love to see our girls in their original costumes, even if a little worn only at the front collar area where the over fabric has melted.  Her sea foam green dress of satin and ecru lace is actually in overall excellent condition, and she still what looks like the original straw bonnet with matching trim (some melting to underside fabric of brim). Her heavy chintz fabric shoes, while worn, are of the same sea foam green color of her dress and bonnet.

Body shots coming soon

She has blue paperweight eyes against pale bisque and subtle shading of cheeks and lips of her closed mouth.  To set off her lush lashes and brows, her original mohair wig is a splay of honey blond ringlets.  She even has her original Steiner purple cardboard pate, and her fully jointed, straight wristed Steiner body is marked "Medaille D' Or 1894" on the hip.  She stands 23" tall.

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Bebe Bru Modele

The Ever Limber Muse of the Bru Story   ON LAYAWAY

In looking for adjectives to sufficiently describe the beauty of this doll, there are so many... and then not enough.  To state the facts, she is a 19" Bru Jne 7 with the famed and desirable Bru Modele body, a fully jointed wood body, including wrists and ankles, that allows for ultimate and unlimited articulation.  She has soulful brown paperweight eyes, an abundant antique blond mohair wig, sensual mouth with molded tongue, pierced ears, and pale, eggshell bisque with subtle and soft decoration.  Her mannequin-like body has the original finish and normal wear expected for a article of such prolific motion.

Her fully antique costume is a two-piece suit from her period, of a silk, wool and cotton blend, accented by a voluminous antique straw bonnet, with coordinating trim.  Her flowing undergarments are noteworthy, especially her soft bebe corset.  The rich blue accents of her dress and bonnet are picked up by her teal blue crocheted antique socks and of course, she takes her turns in her size 7 Bru shoes that are in excellent condition.  After the facts, comes the poetic joy of posing her, naming her, and enjoying her.

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First Series Jumeau Portrait 18"

Size 3 $14,750.

Early first series portrait Jumeau size 3, from the period that immediately followed the portrait poupee.  These early days brought us dolls like this beauty with palest, smooth bisque, pierced ears, gentle decoration of features, and slightly shaded cheeks.  She has threaded blue enamel, almond shaped eyes and her wig is possibly her original, lambskin wig with wild and woolly platinum locks.

She has an eight-ball, Jumeau body with straight wrists, original finish, and on her lower back remains the sticker applied to her for marketing by the Paris boutique that sold her.  This is an interested member of society as suggested by her almost military looking wool suit with accentuated long jacket in back, and by adding a small ribbon medal, she takes on a "Daughter of the Regiment" feel.  An opulent and abundant silk chapeau with applied burgundy ribbon adds to her depth and her antique undergarments and French leather shoes complete her.

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Series C Steiner 12"

Lever Eyes $7400.

A museum treasure that lived at Angel's Attic Miniature and Doll Museum in Santa Monica CA until it was closed in 2017, this 12" Series C Bourgoin Steiner bebe is a keeper.  Not only is she an exquisite, early doll in a petite, cabinet size with the unusual feature of the lever eye mechanism,  she is preserved in her totally original ensemble, undergarments, shoes, wig and purple Steiner pate.

Her midnight blue enamel eyes are connected o a lever at the rear left side of the head that when lifted, opens and closes them.  The eyes are framed with feathery lashes and brows, accented with mauve eye-shadow that complements her soft, rosy cheeks.  She has a closed mouth, pierced ears, and her original long lambskin wig that is still attached to the much appreciated purple cardboard pate, a signature feature of the Steiner firm.

Her fully jointed, straight wrist early body, which is so much fun to pose due to its ingenious, graceful styling, has the exclusive Caduceus stamp on one hip and at the crown rim of her head is the red ink "Sie C Steiner Bourgoin" mark.  She is presented in her completely original outfit of teal velvet trimmed with coffee hued lace that repeats itself throughout the garment and on the matching teal velvet, fancy bonnet.  Even her thin, cotton socks that match the lace in color and leather slippers were probably hers from the start.

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Factory Original Clown 14"

Paper Mache Head $1250.

Several French firms adopted the theatrical charm of the clown by issuing a doll embodying a clown, with reality being taken over by whimsy in makeup, hair and costume and the sky was the limit.  From elaborate cartoon characters and Polichinelles to stage and circus performers, doll makers Huret, Jumeau and Steiner featured some wonderful examples, and lesser firms like Pintel and Gottschalk, Fleichman and Bloedel and later also SFBJ joined the ranks. This colorful fellow is from one of the latter firms and is all original.

He has a heavy paper mache head with porcelain like smoothness, and the painted face features hand drawn insects on the cheeks.  He has blue glass eyes, an open mouth with teeth, and his original curly auburn wig.  He has a five-piece Steiner type body that wears a silk costume of bold, blocked colors, black stockings and slippers a felt hat that just barely rides atop his head. In one photo, he is pictured with his mate currently available on our German page.

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SFBJ "Twirp" 247 $2650.

In this larger size of 19 1/2", this SFBJ 247 mold called "Twirp" fills the room with her special brand of French character and personality.  She is a colorful girl with bright blue glass sleep eyes that have perky original eyelashes still intact, rosy cheeks and an open, smiling mouth with deep rouge lips. Her French toddler body with slanted hips has the identifiable, upturned SFBJ big toes, fully jointed articulation and still has its red and blue, round factory sticker on the center back

.  Her original, dark sandy blond human hair wig, reflects the bobbed and wavy style of the 1920's when she was made and she wears a turquoise silk factory dress with a peachy crepe silk, ruched bonnet.  No cuteness was spared with her undergarments as she has darling short bloomers attached to her baby corset with buttons all around, plus a cotton chemise and full slip.

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Ferdinand Gaultier

Early, Bru-like Bebe 14"

and Intricate Metal Carriage $8950.

An early, Block Letter French bebe by F.G. that supplies an example of the early business relationship between Ferdinand Gaultier and Casmir Bru, where design ideas, part production and styles were borrowed, shared and utilized.  The similarities here to an early Bru  are many, such as her pale and infantine face, heavenly blue paperweight eyes, swivel head and shoulder plate with square-cut collarette, delicate decoration and sparse but original, natural skin wig.

It continues with her Bru-like, kid leather plump body with gussetted joints and beautifully sculpted bisque hands and forearms.  The identifying difference between the two manufacturers' hand sculpting is the pronounced angular pose of the F.G. fingers as opposed to the rounded curves to those of the early Bru bebe. The body construction, however, is almost identical to that of the early Bru Brevete.  And the way this beautiful example is dressed makes her a twin sister to the Early Bru Teteur with her baby-esque presentation and overall feel.  Riding in her elaborate, mesh metal carriage, all seems right in her innocent world!

more French Dolls go to page 2

nellingdolls@gmail.com

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