Very Rare French Bisque Double-Faced Bebe by Leon Casimir Bru with Signed Bru Shoes

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16" (41 cm.) Bisque swivel head on kid-edged bisque shoulder plate with unique construction allowing for easy swiveling of head; a different face appears on each side of head allowing either a cheerful or crying face to be shown while the alternate face is covered by the pivoting wig. One face,with very plump cheeks and chin and delicate pale complexion has shaded-blue painted eyes with black outline and painted lashes,feathered brows,accented eye corners and nostrils of little upturned nose,closed mouth modeled as though open with a row of painted teeth; and the other face with rosy complexion from crying,has painted blue squinting eyes with heavy eyelids,small painted lashes,scowling painted brows,accented nostrils,closed mouth modeled as though open and crying,accented lips. The bebe is on her original kid bebe body with gusset-jointing of hips and knees and one-piece arms with bisque forearms. Condition: generally excellent,restoration to tip of left baby finger. Marks: Depose 1 (front shoulderplate) (original Bru paper label on torso). Comments: Leon Casimir Bru,who deposed a double-faced poupee in 1867,and then some years later,c. 1884,introduced (but never deposed) his double-faced bebe with a distinctively-constructed movable wig and two distinctive facial models used for this double-faced bebe only. An X-Ray of the unique internal construction is shown in The Bru Book by Theimer,page 97. Value Points: the bebe is among the rarest of the Bru models,this example wonderfully-preserved with finest quality bisque and painting,very sturdy original body,bisque hands,and wearing original cream cashmere wool dress with feather-stitching,undergarments,lace cap,knit stockings,and leather shoes with silver buckles signed "Bru Jne Paris 5".