Very Rare French Bisque Double-Face Bru Bebe as Candy Container

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16" (41 cm.) A bisque socket head has a different face on two sides,one face with painted features,blue upper-glancing eyes,thick black upper eyeliner,accented nostrils and eye corners,closed mouth with row of tiny beaded teeth,very plump cheeks; the other face depicting a wailing child with reddened complexion,blue painted squinting eyes,furrowed brows,rounded nose,closed mouth modeled as though open with painted teeth and tongue,The head is arranged within a paper mache hood with turning knob at the top to reveal one or the other head,and the hood is attached to a hollow cylinder torso originally designed for use as a candy container,with bisque lower arms,and extremely rare bisque lower legs with painted ribbed stockings and painted sculpted ankle boots,antique costume and bonnet. Condition: restoration at the crown (under hood),however faces are pristine with all-original complexion and painting; the candy container is sealed. Comments: Leon Casimir Bru,the firm delighted in created novelty objects for the luxury trade,in this case for prestige chocolatiers; the torso was designed to hold candy surprises,and later the ?candy container" became a doll to love. Circa 1880,the double-face model was also made as a classic bebe,although the wonderfully sculpted boots on this example are a delightful variation. Value Points: very rare bebe model as candy container,with bisque boots.