Wonderful Petite French Bisque Bebe Steiner, Figure C, with Early Seaside Costume

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9" (23 cm.) Bisque socket head, blue sleep eyes that operate from wire lever at back of head, painted lashes, feathered brows, rose blushed eye shadow, accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth with accented lips, pierced ears, blonde mohair wig over Steiner pate, French composition and wooden fully-jointed body. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Figure C 4/0 Steiner Bte SGDG Paris (head) Le Petite Parisien Bebe Steiner (hip) J. Steiner (eyes). Comments: Jules Steiner, circa 1884. Value Points: rare model especially precious in this petite size, with original wig, pate, body, body finish, signed eyes, superb painting of features, and wearing charming antique seaside costume with woven hat and fish net. The doll was acquired by Ruth Nievergelt as Lot#1 in the July 2010 Theriault's auction, The Great Man's Doll, and fittingly re-appears here, a decade and a half later, as #1 in this auction.