French Bisque Bebe by Gaultier on Rare Taufling Body with Crier

Live Auction

20" (51 cm.) Bisque swivel head on bisque shoulderplate with modeled upper arms, large amber brown glass paperweight inset eyes, thick dark eyeliner, painted dark curly lashes, accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth with tiny tongue tip, outlined pale lips, dimpled chin, pierced ears, brunette mohair wig over cork pate. The body includes bisque shoulderplate with upper arms, bisque lower torso with upper legs, bare feet and lower legs and hands with elbow length arms, with kid midriff, mid-arms and mid-legs, and there is a crier inside torso which works from pull strings at side hips. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: F. 5 G. Comments: bisque head by Gaultier, circa 1880, on rare body by Jules Steiner; an unusual combination which may not be original although the perfectly matched complexion and neck fit suggests originality. Value Points: very beautiful bebe with superb painting and modeling, rare body with functioning "mama" crier.