Rare Early French Bisque Bebe by Leon Casimir Bru with Rare Painted Teeth

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24" (61 cm.) Bisque swivel head on kid-edged bisque shoulder plate, very plump cheeks and throat, sculpted bosom and shoulderblades, brown glass paperweight inset eyes, painted eyeliner, painted lashes, brushstroked 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, as indicated by the very rare original body label on this doll. Value Points: very rare early example with most expressive features, original body label, fine and very sturdy body and perfect bisque hands, finest painting including delicate blush on eyelids, earlobes, cheeks and chin, and with very rare painted teeth, wearing fine antique silk costume, undergarments, silk frou-frou bonnet, stockings, and leather shoes.