French Bisque Doll from 1912 Presentation "Napoleon and Son Etat-Major"

Live Auction

24" (61 cm). Bisque socket head, blue glass inset eyes, dark eyeliner encircles the sockets, painted lashes with dot highlights, brushstroked brows, accented nostrils, open mouth, four porcelain teeth, pierced ears, blonde human hair, French composition and wooden fully jointed body. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: 10. Comments: SFBJ, utilizing Simon and Halbig bisque head, similarly costumed military dolls appeared in the SFBJ 1912 catalog in a presentation entitled "Napoleon and son Etat-Major"; the catalog noted that the dolls had appeared in a Paris department store window; they could be custom-ordered at an expensive 90 fr. each (four times the cost of large silk-costumed bebes). Value Points: rare model with original costume comprising red jacket (padded for perfect fit) with braid, soutache and medals, white woolen trousers, parade boots, tricorn plumed hat.