19th Century Wax Dolls "Jean Qui Rit" and "Jean Qui Pleure"

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16" (41 cm.) Poured honey-colored wax shoulderheads of two highly characterized young boys, one with laughing expression, the other crying, each with narrow enamel eyes, open mouth with tiny teeth and brunette mohair wig, straw-filled muslin body, poured wax lower arms, hands, and feet with well defined posing of arms and hands, and each wearing its original brown woolen suit with silver buttons, posed on original wooden stand. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: French, mid-19th century, the figures depict "Jean Qui Rit" (John who laughs) and "Jean Qui Pleure" (John who cries) based on the illustrations in the French children's novel by Comtesse de Segur. Value Points: rare and historically significant dolls in wonderfully preserved condition, the laughing boy even protectively holding a little wax winged bird in his hands.