Rare French Bisque Bebe Bru Twins, Blue and Brown-Eyed, with Unique Bodies

Live Auction

30" (76 cm.) Each has bisque socket head with deeply-defined facial features, large glass paperweight inset eyes with spiral threaded eyes, thick dark eyeliner, painted dark curly lashes, rose-blushed eyeshadow, brushstroked fringed brows, accented eye corners and shaded nostrils, closed mouth with outlined lips, pierced ears, brunette human hair over cork pate, French composition and wooden fully-jointed body with uniquely-shaped lower arms designed to extend in front of body with clasped hands. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Bru Jne R 13. Comments: Maison Bru, Girard epoch, circa 1892, a photograph of the dolls appeared in a 1950s early doll research book, describing them as The Twins; notably the dolls had spent their life together until that time, later to be separated to the home of two different collectors. In the 1890s, the then-present owner of one of the dolls was contacted by the owner of the other, and the two dolls were happily reunited. There is one blue-eyed doll, the other brown-eyed, and in all other respects the dolls are identical, including costume, and rare body variation suggesting their possible original purpose as exhibition models in a luxury notions shop, perhaps to hold and display accessories or ribbons. Value Points: the intriguing history of The Twins is enhanced by their especially fine quality of modeling, complexions, eyes and painting.