Nelling, Inc.
F r e n c h D o l l s
page 1, 2
(Click on photos to enlarge)
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Lively Steiner Gigoteur $3650. |
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With production spanning over a period of twenty-five years, the Steiner Gigoteur's family album portrays a widely varying collection of expressions, features and personalities. From the early decade of the 1870's comes this vivacious example with inquisitive spiral eyes of light blue enamel, open mouth with two rows of teeth, fiery auburn skin wig, rosy cheeks over pale bisque, and of course, a working "Mama, Papa" crier that punctuates her head, arm and leg movement upon winding. Her unusually high dose of personality is complemented by her two piece factory cotton paisley dress and matching bonnet. Her body is in nice condition, with her hands having some repair and touch-up and a compo repair to the top of her left arm. 17 1/2" tall. |
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Bru Jne 10 21 1/2" |
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$16,500 |
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This lovely girl has it all! She is a Bru Jne ingenue with huge, blue paperweight eyes, a hint of tongue, original, blond mohair wig with upswept hairstyle, pale bisque, Chevrot body with gracefully poised wood lower arms and legs, and Bru factory label on her chest. She has her original undergarments and a very Bru-silhouette antique frock of burgundy wool and velvet with antique velvet bonnet adorned with flowers and feathers. Her head is marked "Bru Jne 10" and her shoulder "Bru Jne 8", a combination typical of this era. Her shoes are antique leather French shoes marked with a "9". On her right forehead is a factory flaw that is virtually invisible and could be best described as a firing ripple in the bisque with very narrow slit opening on the inside of the head. A very appealing price makes this desirable girl a dream come true! |
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Rare Diminutive Schmitt Bebe 12" $10,750. |
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Pensive Schmitt bebe in a seldom seen 12" size, incised "000" with the Schmitt crossed sword emblem on the back of her head. She has soulful, brown paperweight eyes, a closed mouth with lips parted by a white space, palest, early bisque, and an antique skin wig. Her stamped Schmitt body with flat derriere and rear thighs for stable seating is fully jointed, with eight balls and straight wrists. Her ivory silk frock, matching elaborate silk bonnet, undergarments, leather boots and crocheted socks are all antique. She has the faintest, "barely there" line under her upper forehead bisque surface. It is undetectable except for when inspected with a high-power light from within the head. If she hadn't told me about it, I might have never known! |
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Jumeau R.R. Bebe in Original Mariner's Costume $6500. |
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Saluting the crowd is this exceptionally dressed Jumeau bebe (24 3/4") that bears the mark of "R 10 R" incised on the back of her head with Jumeau artist's check marks, making her an example of a rare special model made by the Jumeau factory for exclusive distribution by a Paris store or boutique. She has ocean blue paperweight eyes, a closed mouth, pale rose bisque with a smooth and even complexion, finely painted features with lush lashes and almost coral lip color, an antique blond mohair wig, and a fully jointed chunky body with jointed wrists with the "Bebe Jumeau, Diplome d' Honneur" label. At one time, she had "Mama, Papa" pullstrings as the two holes for the cords are on the side of her body. Her original costume is a Jumeau factory mariner's dress and coat, with "Mignon" mariner's beret, antique and possibly original undergarments, red crocheted stockings and red twill shoes. Vive la France! |
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Seldom Seen
Size 1 F.G. Bebe! |
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All Original Boy and Box $2650. |
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A treasure preserved in pristine condition, this F.G. size 1 boy is the scroll mark bebe, and only 8 1/2" tall, with blue paperweight eyes, a closed mouth, pale bisque, and a five-piece composition body that is jointed at the shoulders and hips. Completely all original from head to toe, and contained in his original box, he wears a festive silk outfit that is somewhat frayed and has never been removed. |
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S.F.B.J. 236 19" |
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Superb Example $1295. |
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The S.F.B.J. era of French toys produced an abundance of dolls that could be individually judged anywhere on a scale of one-to-ten. The deep molding and lively expression on this 236 "Laughing Jumeau" make him a definite "10"! He has unusually large, blue glass eyes, full of wonder, and his open/closed mouth with molded teeth provides an unquestionable mood of laughter and delight. His tightly sealed, original, strawberry blond mohair wig and factory pate have never been removed, so he has been checked thoroughly with a loop and black light to avoid disturbing the originality. He has luminous bisque, soft shading for this period and detailed decoration and his five-piece S.F.B.J. baby body with curled up toes and gracefully posed fingers is in excellent condition, except for some repaint to a few fingers on both hands and it looks like restoration to one middle finger. Above the left eye between the eyelid and the brow there is a faint firing flaw and a tiny factory "pit". He wears a vintage, two-piece cotton suit and is THE laughing Jumeau to own and quite the rascal! |
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Petite Steiner Bebe 10 1/4" |
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Series C $9500. |
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The ever desirable cherub-like face of the Series C Steiner is always welcome on the French bebe shelf of antique doll collections! This girl has a rather lively quality to her, with her bright blue stationary eyes, peachy, lifelike coloring, full, accented lips and lushly painted lashes and brows. She has pierced ears, her original Steiner cardboard pate, antique, extra long mohair wig with original crimson ribbons, and a fully jointed, extra chunky Steiner body with straight wrists that is in excellent condition. Her antique plaid cotton dress from her era of manufacture complements her hair ribbons and her antique leather shoes (one is quite fragile) are marked "3/0" just like size number on the back of her head. If she can just get through this first day of school..... |
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Rabery and Delphieu 23" |
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Open-mouth Bebe $3500. |
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From a forty-plus old doll collection comes this radiant face, a beautiful open mouth Rabery and Delphieu bebe with a palate of ivory bisque, enormous, crystal blue paperweight eyes, delicate shading and more than a hint of contentment in her smiling expression. She has a fully jointed, French composition body with an old repaint to her torso (at least forty years old!) and her honey colored mohair wig, factory dress, bonnet and shoes have the feel of original. If a doll could have a soul, her photos only begin to reveal what a gentle one she has. |
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more French Dolls go to page 2
Post Office Box 893985 n Temecula, CA 92589
Cell (503) 577-9815 n Home Phone (951) 308-1239 n Fax (951) 308-1285
Don't forget to look at the Miscellaneous page!