Purchased during a recent trip to Paris, this little Francois Gaultier “nun to be” (12") is quite the find, due to her special originality, history and even unique provenance.  She wears her original black wool robe and veil of a young student in the convent and she rests in her antique, oval wood box that has a hand written note about her which is attached under the lid. 

The innocent beauty of a Huret fashion is something we never tire of, as each one that passes through our doll journey has her own distinct persona, whether it be her own unique painting of features, varying but fully accepted body types, or her own version of enfantine fashion that is so endearing in itself.  This youthful silhouette of a preteen or young teenage girl is addictive to the fashion doll junkie, as it defies the full length reality of historic feminine clothing through many ages.  It is just so much fun to study.   

Here we have an early example poupee, with china shoulder head, dreamy blue painted eyes, coral lips, and full-faced beauty surrounded by an antique, fine human hair wig in a wrapped, braided up-do.  Underneath it is her original, very short skin wig attached to her original pate, for history’s sake.  Her body is of fully jointed wood, with an added feature of a swivel waist and jointed wrists, with stout, early hands.  She has the original paint and finish on her body, and her limbs, hands and feet show considerable wear from play and the passage of time.  Let’s talk about her excellent clothing!

  Adding to her value is an unmistakable Huret fashioned dress, made during her time of 1850-60, in a crisp, white pique, having white soutache trim in the classic, swirling motif around the skirt at on the bodice.  Antique undergarments and an antique hoop do their job to fluff her skirt into enfantine proportions, while a blue embroidery trimmed cape/jacket adds accent and depth to her ensemble.  On her head is an antique straw and velvet chapeau with a few sparse feathers, and long strands of navy ribbon joining at the ends with a bow.  Her antique, button up leather boots do show wear and she also has fine cotton poupee stockings with red borders. 

It can be said that Francois Gaultier was among the most prolific of dollmakers in his day.  The FG head was used on so many novelty and experimental bodies by many makers, along with on the classic poupee bodies we a familiar with seeing on our familiar FG fashion dolls. 

Petite Gaultier Fashion in Ceremonial Costume

$2,450.

At only 11” this Francois Gaultier fashion is fresh from Paris and making an astonishing impact due to her fully original and detailed wedding or communion costume that has a provincial feel to its design. Her petite but powerful visage has enormous blue enamel eyes, lush lashes and multi-stroke brows, a closed mouth with accent line between the lips and pale bisque that is a swivel head on a bisque shoulder plate. She has her original blond mohair wig peeking out from under her dramatic head dress of lace, net, silk ribbon and flowers of fabric and wax.

Uniquely sculpted with an elegant, character molding, we have here a rare, Jumeau deluxe fashion doll, in a large, exhibition size.  The Exhibition fashions, circa 1880, usually had ethnic features, dressed in foreign or exotic costumes, and would travel to and from exhibitions and fairs all over Europe for display and education.  The costume on this beautiful lady is not original, but made with antique silk fabric and trim, so her original presentation is not known, except for the elaborate up-do, original wig that crowns her finely detailed face, sultry almond eyes, strong feathered brows and eyelashes, long, aquiline nose, high cheekbones, pierced ears, and for her,  very rare, open rose- colored lips with teeth showing.  The very first of these new innovative series of portrait fashions was not ethnic and much like this fine example, except for the open mouth. .  

While her opulent, two piece silk walking dress is not original, it is a skilled interpretation of what this lady would have worn, in antique fabrics and trim.  Underclothing is antique as is her prim, flowered straw bonnet, and her heeled slippers are of more recent production, but in the antique style.