Outstanding French Bisque Bebe

Live Auction

18" (46 cm.) Bisque socket head with very full lower cheeks,deep blue glass paperweight inset eyes,dark eyeliner,painted curly lashes,mauve blushed eye shadow,brush-stroked and feathered brows,accented eye corners,shaded nostrils,closed mouth with defined space between the outlined lips,pierced ears,blonde mohair wig over cork pate,French composition and wooden fully-jointed body. Condition: generally excellent,early repainting on body. Marks: 9 H. Comments: Halopeau,circa 1880,who had purchased the highly-respected Barrois doll firm in 1877,a propitious moment when the bebe was just entering center stage. Halopeau commissioned a unique bebe model which was created at the Frayon porcelain firm and hand-painted by the famed Parisian painter,Barnard; only one model was ever made and few of these according to extant examples found today. Value Points: exquisite beauty of the rare doll is achieved by superlative bisque and artistic painting,very deep paperweight eyes,original body,and superb antique green velvet costume with lace trim,wire-framed fruit-trimmed bonnet,undergarments,leather stockings,leather shoes with silk rosettes signed L.D. Paris.