Onsite
Highest Bidder
$21,000
Sold
sold
Click image to enlarge
- Estimate
- $7,000 / $9,000
Description
10" (25 cm.) l. 6" h. Bisque socket head with two alternate faces which can be revealed by flipping of original cap, one face with painted blue outlined eyes, arched brows, accented nostrils, closed mouth with row of upper teeth; and the other face depicting a crying child with reddened complexion, squinting outlined blue painted eyes, one-stroke brows, closed mouth modeled as though wide open and squalling; with attached cap on cardboard form which is designed to flip back and forth; firm-bodied torso and upper limbs, bisque lower arms and legs, with painted socks and shoes, one shoe modeled to appear as though falling off. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: (illegible Paris stamp on base). Comments: Leon Casimir Bru, circa 1880, the head was designed for a two-faced bebe model, but was also used in candy box presentations and this amusing vignette. Value Points: extremely rare, of which others are not known to exist, and entirely original and intact, with original costuming, and especially delightful painting and modeling of socks and shoes.
Stuart's Take
Can you imagine the work that went in to model those shoes in such a manner? To give them the illusion as if half on and off? I have personally never seen a piece like this and with such realistic approach to design. And it's a Bru as well!