#84

An Outstanding French Bisque
Live Auction

$20,000
sold
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Description
28" (71 cm.) Pressed bisque socket head,large blue glass paperweight inset eyes of luminous depth,dark eyeliner,painted lashes,thickly fringed brows,accented eye corners,shaded nostrils,closed mouth with defined space between the shaded and outlined lips,deeply impressed chin dimple and philtrum,pierced ears,blonde mohair wig over cork pate,French composition and wooden fully-jointed body with straight wrists and large hands with separately fingers. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: R. 4 D. (block letters). Comments: Rabery and Delphieu,circa 1883,their classic bebe was registered as "Bebe de Paris" in that year and won silver medals in the Amsterdam and Antwerp Expositions of 1883 and 1885; the bebe heads of this era were commissioned from the Gaultier firm explaining their close resemblance to Gaultier bebes and similar block letter markings. Value Points: very beautiful bebe with choice bisque,near mint original body,is preserved with her original trunk and walnut wardrobe chest that contains an original trousseau: burgundy velvet dress with ivory silk and lace trim,aqua silk dress with lace overlay,white dotted Swiss dress with silk ribbons,white cashmere dress with sienna pattern and matching silk sash,black woolen pleated coat,along with five matching bonnets,white blouse,seven white cotton undergarments,socks,original shoes,pillow and blanket; the trunk has two lift-out trays and original makers label "Paul B. Maris,80 Passage Choiseul,Paris" An exceptional and wonderfully preserved bebe with superb original trousseau of the early 1880 era.