French Bisque Poupee by Adelaide Huret with Trousseau and Victor Hugo Provenance

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17" (43 cm.) Pale bisque swivel head on kid-edged shoulder plate with distinctive plump facial modeling and strong throat,defined double chin and characteristic throat hollow at top of shoulder plate,painted eyes in deeply-set sockets with outlined heavy eyelids,characteristic decorative glaze at lower eyes,painted lashes,lightly-feathered brows,accented nostrils and eye corners,closed mouth with pale daintily-accented lips,unpierced ears,strawberry-blonde human hair over cork pate arranged in a stylized topknot,gutta-percha fully-articulated body with jointing at shoulders,elbows,hips and knees,and wearing a stunning ice-blue silk dress with cream pencil-stripe design,scalloped edging and feather-stitched embroidery,ivory silk ribbons,over sous-sleeves,with undergarments,classic Huret heeled shoes with darker sole rims and an impressed block mark,and turquoise bead necklace with opaline cross. Condition: generally excellent,typical repairs to gutta-percha body. Marks: Medaille d'Argent Huret,22 Boulevd Montmartre Paris Expos. Univers. 1867. Comments: Adelaide Huret,circa 1863,the doll served as inspiration for the heroine Deruchette of Victor Hugo's novel,Travailleurs de la Mer,was then gifted by Victor Hugo to the daughter of his dear friend Alfred Asseline (who named her "The Great Man's Doll"),and finally,in 1872,after the Hugo family's return to Paris from exile,she was presented to his grand-daughter Jeanne after a re-freshening visit to the Huret ateliers where the body was restored,a kid label with the 1867 Exposition label affixed,and beautiful additions made to the trousseau. The doll remained among Jeanne's belongings most of her life,and was then gifted to her god-daughter in whose family the doll remained until the present time. A more detailed story of the doll is given in an appendix at the end of this catalog. Value Points the extraordinary provenance concerning the man whom many consider France's finest poet/writer is only enhanced by the exceptional beauty of this Huret doll. In addition,the poupee owns an extensive trousseau,once cherished by Jeanne Hugo,as attested by the linen-covered wooden doll trunk which bears the brass name plate of "Jeanne". The costumes comprise seven additional dresses and gowns of couturier quality from the early/mid 1860 era,and one superb silk fashion gown from the 1872 era that bears the Huret stamp on the inside waist (according to The Huret Book by Francois Theimer,labeled Huret costumes from this era were special commission only,suggesting the gown had been ordered by Victor Hugo for his granddaughter's doll). There are also two pique petticoats and a half slip that have the Huret stamp,and nine other finely-made undergarments. Other signed Huret accessories include bone folding fan in box labeled Huret,hat box labeled Huret containing two silk flowers and a blue woven bonnet signed Huret,pressed flannel bonnet. and a green-edged white box with Huret stamp containing a hankie embroidered "H". Other accessories include: black silk and lace coiffe,stiffened-braid bonnet with green feathers,two metal-handled parasols (one black silk with ivory tips,and one painted yellow with unusual silk cover and ivory tips),miniature rare blue opera glasses (one brass rim missing) with Stanhope image of Rouen and a drawing of Jeanne (symbol of France) in the manner of Hugo's illustrations,leather purse with tiny lock of baby hair,finely-woven silk snood,needlepoint slippers,knit fingerless gloves with blue silk ribbons,wooden egg,lambswool muff in original green box,wooden game box with cards and dice,gilt metal crown,leather cased necessaire with bone awl and needlecase and tiny gilded scissors,little book,very fine handmade lace coiffe and veil,silk pillow with woven design "Souvenir de L'Exposition 1878",and a fine porcelain tea service in its original box. Also included is a first edition of the 1885 memoirs,Victor Hugo Intime,by Alfred Asseline,detailing the early history of the poupee,and a hand-written letter by Micheline Cullin of Paris,the final family owner of the doll,relating more details of the doll and its history.