Rare French Bisque "Bebe Gourmand" by Leon Casimir Bru with Original Bru Shoes

Live Auction

18" (46 cm.) Pressed bisque swivel head on kid-edged bisque shoulder plate with modeled bosom and shoulder blades, blue glass paperweight inset eyes, thick dark eyeliner, painted lashes, rose blushed eye shadow, painted lashes, brush-stroked and multi-feathered brows, accented eye corners, shaded nostrils, slightly-parted richly shaded lips, firmly-stuffed kid bebe body with kid-over-wood upper arms, bisque forearms with separately sculpted fingers, bisque lower legs from the knees, bisque bare feet sculpted with hole at bottom for food to fall through trap-door shoes. Condition: restoration to the throat onto right cheek and to hands, tongue missing that allows biscuit to slide into torso metal funnel. Marks: (circle dot symbol on head) 1 T (shoulder) (original Bru paper label and original boutique label on torso). Comments: Leon Casimir Bru, the "Bebe Gourmand" was first advertised by him in 1882, described as "delicieux bebe a surprise". The bebe has two hollow tin tubes or funnels leading from the upper torso into each leg through which the biscuit could be "digested", then finally falling through the trap door of the unique shoes custom-designed by Bru to accommodate the "surprise". Value Points: exceptionally rare Bru bebe model with perfect bisque shoulder plate and superbly sculpted perfect bisque legs and feet, very sturdy kid with original Bru paper label and original shop label of Delathuilerie located at 355 Rue St. Honore, and with well-preserved original leather "trap-door" Bru shoes labeled with script oval insignia "B".