Extremely Rare French Bisque Poupee Signed by Dehors with Unique Body

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17" (43 cm.) Pale bisque swivel head with perfectly-egg-shaped head and elongated throat on kid-edged bisque shoulder plate,deposed Dehors head articulation,blue glass enamel inset eyes,dark eyeliner encircles the eyecut,painted lashes,widely-arched feathered brows,aquiline nose with accented nostrils,accented eye corners,closed mouth in smiling expression,outlined lips,unpierced ears,blonde mohair wig over cork pate,unique body with kid-over-carton torso,kid-over-wooden legs with hinged articulation at hips and knees,gesso-over-composition ankles and feet with defined toes,kid-over-wooden upper arms,bisque arms from above the elbows with very expressive separated fingers,defined knuckles and dimpled elbows. Condition: generally excellent,tip of index finger missing on left hand. Marks: A. Dehors 4 Brevete JP 2 (shoulder plate). Comments: Alexander Dehors,circa 1866,his depose of that year concerned the articulation of the poupee head designed to allow the doll to "tilt her head to one side or lower or raise modestly or triumphantly" (Nicolle,1867 review). The Dehors system appeared on generic models and,very rarely,on portrait models,such as this,that bears his name. The actual doll is shown in The Encyclopedia of French Dolls,page 175. Value Points: extremely rare poupee with maker's signature expressive portrait face,deposed neck articulation,original unique body,choice bisque and painting,all enhanced by original sheer muslin gown with block-printed floral design,blue velvet and silk bonnet,undergarments,kidskin slippers.