Passed
Click image to enlarge
Description
24" (61 cm.) Bisque swivel head on kid-edged bisque shoulder plate, very plump cheeks and throat, sculpted bosom and shoulder blades, brown glass paperweight inset eyes, painted eyeliner, painted lashes, brush-stroked brows with fringed detail, rose-blushed eye shadow, accented eye corners, shaded nostrils, closed mouth with outlined shaded lips, defined space between the lips with painted row of teeth, pierced ears, blonde human hair wig over cork pate, French kid bebe body with scalloped-edge collarette, plump torso, gusset-jointing at hips and knees, bisque forearms and hands. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: (circle/dot symbol at back of head) Bte SGDG (forehead) Exposant pour la premier fois en 1878 Medaille d'argent (original paper label on torso). Comments: Leon Casimir Bru, circa 1878, the early model bebe was advertised in 1879 as "bebe en peau" (referring to the kid body, of which Bru was extremely proud) and his advertising of that year noted that the doll had first been displayed at the Paris International Exposition of 1878 where it had won a silver medal; that same promotion is what is repeated on this bebe body label. Value Points: very rare earliest presentation of this bebe with rare body label, fine and very sturdy body and perfect bisque hands, superb bisque and modeling with finest painting including delicate blush on eyelids, earlobes, cheeks and chin, and with very rare painted teeth, wearing fine antique silk dress, undergarments, woven bourrelet cap and leather shoes.