Rare 19th Century Wax Dolls "Jean Qui Rit" and "Jean Qui Pleure" in Original Costumes

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16" (41 cm.) Poured honey-colored wax shoulder heads of two highly characterized young boys, one with laughing expression, the other crying, each with narrow enamel eyes, open mouth with tiny teeth and brunette mohair wig, straw-filled muslin body, poured wax lower arms, hands, and feet with well defined posing of arms and hands, and each wearing its original brown woolen suit with silver buttons. Condition: generally excellent, one baby finger tip chipped. Comments: probably French, mid-19th century, the figures depict "Jean Qui Rit" (John who laughs) and "Jean Qui Pleure" (John who cries) based on the illustrations in the French children's novel by Comtesse de Segur. So popular were the figures that they were produced in many forms including dolls as these, bisque or bronze figurines and other novelties, and even as the crying boy in the Vichy automaton of "Little Schoolboy in Dunce Cap". Value Points: rare and historically significant dolls in wonderfully preserved condition, the laughing boy even protectively holding a little wax winged bird in his hands.