Nelling, Inc.
French D o l l s
page 1, 2
(Click on photos to enlarge)
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Henri Delcroix Bebe $2,450. |
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A rare little French bebe (13 1/2") from the smaller firm of Henri Delcroix who is only marked with the incised “Paris” on the back of her bisque head. She has blue paperweight eyes, a closed mouth, pierced ears and a soft, round face that looks quite similar to the fine dolls of the Joseph Joanny company. Her chunky composition and wood body is fully jointed and is in very nice condition, except for some wear at the joints, especially behind the knee joints. |
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At the top left rim of her head, there is a small, fill-in repair area, similar to the size of a pea. Her blond mohair wig is an altered combination of antique mohair and human hair, probably done to preserve as much of the original wig as possible. Her rose colored, satiny dress and matching, high brim bonnet have quite a bit of age to them, as they have faded from a much more vibrant rose color that can be seen underneath. Undergarments and shoes are antique. |
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Pintel & Godchaux Bebe $2,250. |
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Although this enchanting French bebe (15") is only incised with a large "3" on the back of her head, the maker of Pintel & Godchaux rings true in her expression and decoration of features. A lesser known firm it was. but the dolls they produced had a similar look to later Gaultier bebes and also those of Fleishman and Bloedel. Her body is quite interesting as it is a five-piece, high quality French composition model with painted metal hands, much like those found on the dolls of Petit et Dumoutier. |
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Her blue paperweight eyes are dazzling with her pale, creamy bisque, she has a closed mouth with minimal shading of the cheeks and she has pierced ears. Her wig is a blond mohair replacement that surrounds her expressive face. An antique, striped silk, A-line jacket over pleated skirt gives her the silhouette of a Bru bebe, however the garment has substantial melting on the front turquoise blue silk panel and some areas of the rest of the dress. All displays beautifully with her antique felt hat with ribbon and feather accents. Antique undergarments and shoes. |
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Petit e' Dumoutier 19" |
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Wax Over Composition $1995. |
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As an example of the many innovations by the
French doll factories of the 1880's to create a bebe that was unbreakable or
"incassable", this fresh-faced bebe has the facial features and body
detail that tie her to the PD factory. Her wide, rounded face with
idealistically almond, blue glass eyes, pouty mouth and soft coloring play
well with her wax over composition complexion that is very well preserved
with just the expected surface crazing. |
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Her body has the signature metal hands used by PD, on a near mint, five-piece composition body that retains it's French boutique stamp. She wears a factory, candy pink cotton frock, lace bonnet, and antique caramel colored mohair wig and some extra-ordinary, original cotton undergarments. The ivory leather, lace-up shoes are antique. This is one to round out any fine, French bebe collection. |
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Outstanding Bru Jne. 19 1/2" |
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All Original Court Costume ON LAYAWAY |
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Just arrived from Paris! A true masterpiece as a Bru Jne antique doll, a true example of French Court costume fashion that is an original garment to the doll, and a classic piece of artwork in a three-dimensional feast for the eyes! |
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At 19 1/2”, this subject demands attention with her deep brown paperweight eyes, closed mouth, delicately applied facial features and pure, even-toned pale bisque, pierced ears and original, platinum mohair wig in 18th century, primped ringlets tied up and cascading over the shoulders. Head and shoulder plate are incised “Bru Jne 7” and she has a fully marked Chevrot Body with original factory label on the chest. The lower jointed arms of bisque are perfect as are her lower legs of wood and her leather body is exceptional but for some rust or moisture spots that happened over time. |
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The original Georgian couture costume is an explosion of fairy tale colors in a two piece gown of muted floral satin and it is in excellent condition as are her crisp cotton undergarments. Beneath the suit top is her original, pink satin corset and her marked Bru Jne slippers are of a cream leather with applied buckle-bows. The shoes are size 8, however they fit her perfectly. |
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She has acquired a couple of accent accessories consisting of a pressed gold metal mirror with bone handle and a feathery fan with floral applique. There is a special place in history and in your cabinet for this superb Bru Jne. |
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Bawo & Dotter Edwardian Lady Doll ON LAYAWAY |
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From porcelain factories in both Bavaria and Limoges, then imported and sold by Bawo & Dotter in New York, we have an extremely rare bisque head lady doll in the style of the Simon Halbig 1468 or COD 1469. She has a sublime, heart shaped face with blue glass sleep eyes, an aquiline nose, a small, pursed closed mouth and meticulous decoration of lashes, brows and cheeks. Bringing five-figure prices at auction, this seldom seen example is a chance to actually own one for much less, due to an expertly repaired head damage. (please ask for photo) |
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Her wig is an antique mohair upturned style, popular in this era and she has a fully jointed composition body in the attractive, modern silhouette of the day with shapely bosoms and hips. On the center of her lower back are remnants of an original factory or store sticker and she has an incised 213/2 mold number/size on the back of her head. Her daytime dress of cram and black striped silk is from her period of manufacture, 1915, and her hat is a conversation piece in itself, made ingeniously of horse hair. Her black leather, heeled pumps are new. |
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Etienne Denamur Bebe 9" |
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Rare Size 0 SOLD |
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A closed mouth E.D. bebe becomes a very special treasure at size 0, and in her original, factory presentation. She has blue paperweight eyes, her original platinum mohair wig, an her theatrical costume consists of a white organdy dress, spotted with red fiber polka-dots, a matching cone-shaped hat, leatherette French shoes and short socks. Underneath her skirt is an attached, stuffed fabric "bustle" of sorts, to fill her dress! Her French body is fully jointed, of composition. (She has a factory dimple on her right cheek that is less noticeable in person.) On with the show! |
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Endearing Tete Jumeau -
The Judy McDonald Collection ON LAYAWAY |
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If you had to rate the beauty of a doll, this Tete Jumeau (18") has a 5-star face, with her deep blue paperweight eyes, pale, luminescent bisque, gentle decoration of features and cheeks, and a rose colored closed mouth. Her resulting persona is utterly stunning! She has pierced ears and wears her original blond mohair wig that spills curls all around her shoulders. Here red Tete stamp was scrubbed off by the factory as the doll was probably commissioned by a store or boutique that would market her with their own name. She has an unmarked Jumeau body with straight wrists that is jointed at the shoulders, elbows and hips, however her legs are unjointed. |
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The body has an old repaint and scratches to the surface around the waist. Her antique silk frock makes a statement with its firm structure in an A-line shape with pleated detail, lace and silk ribbon overlay on the bodice and fine, tiny pearl buttons that close the back. The coordinating ecru silk and lace bonnet is superb, and her size 8 Jumeau leather shoes are marked! From the long-loved collection of Judy McDonald. |
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French Bebe in Presentation Box 16 1/2" |
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Limoges ca. 1900 ON LAYAWAY |
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Resting in a long, pearly white, paper-covered box with lacy, cut paper trim is this friendly faced, French bisque head girl by the Limoge factory. She has blue glass sleep eyes, an open mouth with teeth, peachy bisque and shading and her original honey blond, human hair wig and also wears her original, factory outfit including muslin chemise with turquoise accents that match her original turquoise oilcloth shoes. |
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Under her right eye on the lower lid there is a fleck of bisque shaved off but looks like the factory painted an eyelash over it faintly. You can see it in the photo. Her French composition body is in near mint condition, with original patina, is fully jointed and has the side jointed "teenage" hips and jointed wrists. While the box is narrow for her and a bit too long, it is just how she was purchased decades ago by a lifelong collector, so like this she remains. |
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Earliest Bru Teteur Brevete (Faint Hairline) ON LAYAWAY |
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In the fascinating chronology of Bru bebes, the Bru Teteur, or "Nursing Bru", has a chapter all its own due to the several stages of production on this innovative doll. Shown here (13 3/4") is the earliest in the line of these dolls that replicated the act of nursing, which was made possible by inserting in the open mouth glass bottle with rubber tip that was also offered for sale. In the bisque head was a heavy rubber balloon that could ingest water through the mouth with suction caused by turning a knob outside the back of the head. The earliest dolls had the ivory knob like this one, which was later replaced with metal. None of these work anymore due to the drying of the rubber. |
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This early head is known as the Brevete and it portrays a very young child or even infant. At the bottom of this listing I have provided a photo of the same doll in a Christening gown taken when I had her in my collection of early infants. During a couple of years of production, the nursing Bru's were made using Circle Dot and also Bru Jne. heads which are more readily found. |
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The dramatic coloring on this child is due to the rich brown paperweight eyes against the eggshell white bisque, brought to life with gentle rose-tinted cheeks and lips. Part of her original skin wig remains as shown in the body shots, however she also sports a replacement skin wig elsewhere, which fits on top. She has a swivel neck on bisque shoulder plate and bisque forearms. At the middle left side of her forehead is a faint hairline that she has had all the years in my possession (Photos available). Her leather body is sturdy and clean with some typical bending. |
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Most enjoyable was finding this antique, white knit bebe ensemble that she models, using several combinations of pieces in each photo. There is a darling one-piece camisole and pantaloon garment, a half skirt, a full dress or shift, a sweater and a matching bonnet, all with the same design. Crocheted socks and linen shoes are also antique. A super special doll with an endearing presentation. |
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more French dolls back to page 1
Post Office Box 4327 n Burbank, CA 91503
Cell (818) 738-4591 n Home Phone (818) 562-7839
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