Early French Porcelain Poupee by Adelaide Huret, Trunk and Extensive Trousseau

Live Auction

17" (43 cm.) Porcelain shoulderhead with plump rounded face, pale blue eyes with darker blue outer rims in downcast pose, thick painted upper lashes, painted lower lashes, accented eye corners, lightly-feathered brows, shaded nostrils, closed mouth with accent touches on lips, unpierced ears, blonde lambswool wig over cork pate, kid gusset-jointed plump enfantine body, porcelain arms to above the elbows. Condition: there is a very faint line (firing?) on the left side shoulderplate, left thumb repaired. Comments: Adelaide Huret, circa 1857, a label on the doll torso is from Au Calife de Bagdad, the doll shop at 14 Rue de Choiseul, a short distance in the 9th Arr. from the Huret firm located at 25 Rue Lazare at this time; it is possible the original gutta percha body was replaced with this sturdier body during the early 1860 era, along with adding to the luxurious trousseau of the poupee. Value Points: the beautiful poupee is wearing fine early costume (unsigned but possible Huret) with matching lavender velvet net snood. The doll is the owner of a large multi-layered trunk with original label of mid-1800s Parisian trunk maker Roquancourt Bolle and contains an extensive 1860s era trousseau: seven silk or cotton dresses or ensembles, five blouses, silk skirt, seven petticoats, three chemises, two white cotton smocks, three night shifts, five full slips, five pantalets, four various woven wraps, six pairs of footwear, eight cotton bonnets with lace or embroidered detail, three snoods, eight other velvet or woven hats, lidded basket and two woven hammocks. Private Collection Kathryn DeFillipo.