
Nelling, Inc.
French
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French DEP Wind-up Walking Boy
$995. |
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Here is a conversation piece from the late
1800's and an example of the constant introduction of movement as a
feature for playthings. This 16" guy has a bisque head with brown
sleep eyes and an open mouth with teeth, a French composition body of the
SFBJ type judging from the way some of the surface has chipped away on the
hands. It is jointed at the shoulders, elbows, wrists and hips. |
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On the left lower side of his body is his original turn key and when
wound, he slowly moves his legs forward and backward, the right arm slight
raises up and down and his head gently nods from side to side. All
this movement is very subtle and it was probably much more dramatic in his
younger days. His metal feet, marked "Brevete SGDG" on the bottom, each have a
set of two wheels that propel him to stroll slowly forward, if he feels
like it! He has an antique grey checked wool suit and felt fedora
style hat. Right index finger is missing, probably a walking injury! |
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Divine, Unmarked Bebe
15" |
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Attributed to Mothereau
$8500.
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Like answering a question with a question, so
does this muse of a bebe provoke thought, complete a search and then cause
it to continue. The hunt for an exquisite French bebe that has the
attributes of the finest makers of that golden time may be over, but the
learning continues. Marked only with an incised "2/0" on the back of
the head, she opens discussion on being an early Jumeau, Schmitt or a Petit
et Dumoutier, but a study of the body design brings Mothereau to the table. |
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Now everything seems to fall into place as
she may be very similar to her ca. 1870's sisters, but the unusual
expression that you know you've seen but not frequently, comes into
focus. The highly unusual style of molding at the joints of her early,
straight wrist French body is that of the Bebe Mothereau, as is her unique
facial molding. As a very early bebe, she has unevenly cut, large
almond eye sockets, dark brown enamel eyes, pale bisque (tiny pit at end of
nose), an original and somewhat wild sheepskin wig, and a closed mouth with
full lips that almost want so part and speak. Her A-line linen factory
frock has the palest aqua ribbon detail that is repeated subtly on her
frilly silk bonnet, both of which are perfect in every way for her.
Undergarments all antique as are her pale aqua, crocheted socks and cream
canvas antique 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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Earliest Period Bru Teteur
14" |
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Rare Brevete Head
SOLD |
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With the dawn of French bebes in the late
1870's, Bru was one of the leaders as his already successful career of
designing and manufacturing fine fashion dolls was transitioning to a new
chapter. The first in his line of bebes was called the "Brevete" mold,
with the endearing attributes of a very young child making it a perfect
candidate to become the "Teteur" or Nursing Bru. Unlike the regular
Brevete bebe, the Teteur has an open mouth with an inner spout bottle of
rubber that can suck water in and out turning the bone key at the back of
the head. |
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Everything else about the doll is pure Brevete bebe with the swivel head
on bisque shoulder plate, bisque hands in a cupped position with stout
fingers, and a plump, gusseted kid leather body. Due to the infant
theme of the nursing Bru, they tend to be found dressed originally in
infant clothing, many times of white pique, as this one is. The doll
has extra clothing that includes the short dress with cape, an aqua blue
knitted underskirt for warmth, that matches her blue paperweight eyes. The
bisque is pale and translucent with delicate decoration and shading, the
ears are pierced and the blond skin wig is original. |
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Also in the layette is a fabulous white pique christening gown with layers
of ruffles and a long cape to match, a sweet lace baby bonnet, and cotton
undergarments. The leather shoes are marked with the Bru "B" in an
oval on the sole, there is a small pillow, a glass baby bottle with rubber
tip, a bone teething ring, and a metal
rattle as part of the collection. Speaking of collections, I have a
weakness for the Bru Teteurs and have three in my own collection, one from
each period of manufacture: Brevete, Circle Dot and Bru Jne! |
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Lovely Bru Jne. R -
The Judy McDonald Collection
SOLD |
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With subtle coloring and workmanship like her
earlier Bru Jne. sisters, this 16" Bru Jne. R stands out so she can stand on
the top shelf with them! She has large deep blue paperweight eyes,
full, salmon pink closed lips with a molded space in-between, very pale and
smooth bisque with light brown shaded brows and delicately painted lashes,
pierced ears and an antique, blond mohair wig. |
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Her fully jointed composition Bru body is stamped "Bebe Bru No. 7" in blue
ink on her back and is in beautiful condition, except for some scratches at
the waist and front neck area, with the distinctive curves and slopes
of the Bru body design. Her undergarments and shoes are antique, and
her tailored, A-line dress and matching bonnet are expertly made from old
fabrics and trim. From the long-loved collection of Judy McDonald. |
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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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Jumeau Size 1 Premier Portrait Bebe
SOLD |
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At only 10 1/4", we have a
huge presence from this size 1 Jumeau portrait who is tiny but mighty,
with her vibrant blue spiral eyes, closed mouth, super soft
decoration of her brows, lashes, cheeks and lips, pierced ears and antique
blond mohair wig cascading onto her shoulders. Her Jumeau,
eight-ball jointed body is stamped "Medaille de Ore" on the lower back and
is in fine original condition, the varnish on both hands has darkened or
has been reapplied. At the bottom back of her head is an incised
"1". |
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Her precious costume consists of a frothy, antique, lace trimmed organdy
jacket over a very similar, almost matching delicate dress, she has a creamy
wool slip along with all her antique cotton undergarments, socks, leather
shoes and a straw hat with its own fabric flower garden surrounding the
face. Shown in the photo at the right is another small Jumeau
portrait, listed separately. |
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more French
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nellingdolls@gmail.com
Post Office Box 4327 n
Burbank, CA 91503
Cell (818) 738-4591
n Home Phone (818)
562-7839
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