Nelling, Inc.
French D o l l s
page 1, 2
(Click on photos to enlarge)
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Jumeau Portrait Bebe $8650. |
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In a search for a doll with the softest presence, this 13 1/2" Jumeau second series portrait girl would fulfill the wish, as her creamy, dewy blushed bisque decorated with pale, gentle eyelash and brow strokes, rose petal closed lips, grey-blue paperweight eyes and sandy, blond original mohair wig made her a delicate subject in every photo. |
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She has a stamped, Jumeau eight ball body with straight wrists and wears a delightful, antique pink silk dress with lace trim floating around the skirt, shoulders and trimming the matching antique straw hat. Antique undergarments, socks and French leather shoes are also part of her ensemble, as well as an amethyst colored stone pendant around her neck. She is another proud graduate of the Legacy Doll Museum in Billings, Montana. |
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Fre. A Steiner 12" |
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La Parisienne $5450. |
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With the flat and crisp quality that an original organdy dress can supply, this cabinet size Figure A Steiner has that impeccable original feel that lovers of genuine doll clothing can appreciate. Only time can give us this unmistakable look and feel and it is so satisfying. Not to mention the antique bonne that compliments her crisp ensemble! Underneath are her antique white undergarments, stockings and French, ivory leather shoes. What a simple, clean presentation! |
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Her blue paperweight eyes, closed mouth, smooth, rose petal bisque, and softly- toned decoration are framed with her original blond mohair wig atop her original grey cardboard Steiner pate. Her fully jointed Steiner body with slim hands is in excellent condition, and bears the "La Parisienne" stamp on the upper left hip area. Her ivory painted fingernails suggests that she came from the Au Nein Blue store in Paris, circa late 1880's. |
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Choice Bru Jne. 14" |
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Size 3 $22,900. |
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Having the deep molding, plump lips and molded tongue that Bru Jne. collectors love, this 14" size 3 has great presence, but in a small, cabinet size. She has warm brown paperweight eyes, creamy bisque, an almost frowning brow that catches shadows from all angles and her antique mohair wig is a light ash blonde. Her swivel head and shoulderplate with molded breasts are both marked Bru Jne. 3, and she has the typical, graceful bisque lower arms and hands with a finger repair that is virtually invisible (so much so that it is a challenge to find!). The darker sandy blond mohair wig used in the body shots is available if preferred. |
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. She retains most of her original chest label on her highly modeled, transitional leather body, with the upper arms of leather covered wood. Her antique costume of crisp, white pique is trimmed with soutache, and peaking out of a side pocket is her little bisque travel doll. Some splashes of color are supplied by her pink satin, fancy bonnet of antique fabrics and her pink crocheted antique socks, and she wears high quality, antique leather shoes with buckles. |
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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 $2450. |
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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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Early Bisque Hip Steiner Bebe ON LAYAWAY |
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Jules Nicholas Steiner was a pioneer of the transition from fashion dolls to child dolls that began with his early bebes of the 1870's. Borrowing ideas for jointing from the Orient, he adopted the Motchsmann or taufling body that by using bisque or paper mache for the head, shoulders, hips, lower arms and legs, and using stuffed muslin for the midsection, elbows and knees, made for a child doll that allowed for movement and lifelike flexibility. This model (13"), with the closed mouth and stationery neck, is all in bisque and muslin, has cobalt enamel eyes and a very pale, almost white complexion. |
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She has a closed dome head, flat unpierced ears, delicate shading, and statue like molding of all her body parts, including her derriere, typical of this very early stage in doll production. She only has repair to the left thumb and forefinger, a wonder for a child's toy made of porcelain and of this age. Her original strawberry blond, mohair wig is very sparse, so she has a replacement mohair wig of a very similar shade. Her layers and layers of antique cotton and organdy clothing make for quite a dreamy presentation, along with her antique lace bonnet. |
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Circle Dot Bru ON LAYAWAY |
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From the early years of the Bru production, just after the Brevete bebe, came the Circle Dot Bru, with her highly sculpted facial features and powerful persona. She has oversized, almond shaped and very blue paperweight eyes, mauve eye shadow, soft browns and lush lashes, full molded lips with a pronounced tongue in between, and angelic blush over pale, pale bisque. The back of her swivel head is marked with the full circle and dot, and her bisque shoulder plate has subtle, pre-adolescent molded breasts. |
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At roughly 19" tall, she has a sturdy, gusseted leather body, with bisque lower arms and cherubic molded hands. Her body has some conservative patching to protect the original healthy structure. She has an abundant antique blond mohair wig, her pierced ears and turquoise glass bead earrings that match her chest-length necklace with gold metal pendant. She has traveled through life with and extended collection of wardrobe pieces, all of them genuine and special in their simplicity that so represents the early bebe style. |
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In addition to very special and detailed undergarments with pleating and lace trim, she had three beautifully trimmed cotton dresses that can be worn alone or as ensembles, with the simpler ones providing the extra fill of an "under-dress", a smart, pleated grey wool coat with striped silk lining, opulent lace and silk bonnet and of course a deluxe cotton night gown with more pleating and lace trim. Antique leather shoes and knit stockings complete her loveliness. |
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Rare SFBJ 245 Googly ON LAYAWAY |
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| The French aspect really comes through with this joyfully smiling child , who has that extra dimension of "peculiar" that only the French could add. It is an idealization of the normal, almost a theatrical persona, and it is brilliant. This darling example is 8” tall, has blue glass sleep eyes, a closed, grinning mouth in which the molded teeth can be seen hiding between the lips, but having been intentionally painted the lip color by the factory, for a more watermelon smile. |
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The body is a stout, five-piece toddler style with molded and painted short boots of cinnamon brown. The hands show some wear, but the condition overall is excellent. The auburn mohair wig is antique if not original. The Brittany regional outfit and muslin undergarments she wears are fresh, from the SFBJ factory production line, with only the complementary bonnet with ribbon trim being an antique addition. The garments have never been removed and are stitched into permanent position. |
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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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