Antique French Fashion Doll 17\" Smiling Bru Poupee Empress Eugenie Wooden Body

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Antique French Fashion Doll 17\" Smiling Bru Poupee Empress Eugenie Wooden Body :
$3156.79

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Antique FRENCH FASHION DOLL - 17\" - SMILING BRU - Poupee - Empress Eugenie - Wooden Body - Bisque Swivel Head - Jointed Limbs - Original Clothing - Closed mouth -                 

I have an unusual item to list - a lovely 19th Century French Fashion Doll.  I normally sell books and paper but am not unfamilar with this type of item.  I normally just give a short explanation of what I am selling, but this item requires much more description.  Please read the narrative below to get all the particulars of this beautiful piece.  

What a treasure!  

This superb Bru French Fashion doll is incised \"F\" on the back of the head and \"G\" on the right edge of the shoulder plate (see photos).  The doll has a bisque swivel head on a separate shoulder plate; so, this aids in posing the doll.  

Her creamy, pale, bisque head is free from any hairlines, damage or restoration.  Her right eye area has a speck of kiln dust (see photos).  She stands 17\" from the crest of her forehead (without wig) to her toe and was created with a fully jointed, wooden body.  She has a shapely torso, swivel jointing at the waist, and a defined derriere.  She even has jointing at the wrist and ankle (one foot and one hand missing).  The wooden body has scuffs/knicks/chips to the finish and some discolouration.  The kid leather trim around the shoulder plate has some wear and discolouration.  She is also missing one toe; however, the remaining toes have red line definition.

This rare, French doll is known as a \"Smiler\" due to her Mona Lisa expression.  Doll historians say she was made as a tribute to the lovely Empress Eugenie of France, wife of Napoleon III.

She has an oval-shaped, adult face with a life-like complexion of pale bisque, contrasted by a warm, rosy blush to her cheeks.  Her threaded, blue glass eyes are mesmerising.  She has lovely, dark eyeliner, delicately painted lashes, feathered brows, accented nostrils and eye corners, outlined lips, pierced ears, delicate glass earrrings, and an artistically modeled nose.  She is missing her original cork pate.  

The clothing and accessories are exquisite.  She appears to retain her original, beautifully tailored costume, which is outstanding, plus a few later editions such as a vintage purse, stockings and shoes (false cork foot to fill shoe where foot is missing).  She has various, original, delicate undergarments including a butter yellow, wool petticoat/underskirt.  Her clothing does, however, show its age and is quite fragile.  It has tears, moth holes, missing trims, fraying, some stains, some yellowing, some melting of fabric.

The Smiling Bru was first produced in 1867 just before the Paris International Exposition of 1867 by Leon Casmir Bru. 

I could not include all the photos I took of this graceful doll.  Please email me for other images, BUT please do so 24 hours or more before the ending time to allow me to respond to your request.         

Postage charge includes insurance due to the value of this item.  Please inquire for other overseas quotes.  International buyers are responsible for all taxes and tariffs associated with items sent overseas.

Let me know if you need additional photos.

HANDLING TIME:  I usually post items the day after the paypal payment is made - sometimes sooner.  

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Antique French Fashion Doll 17\" Smiling Bru Poupee Empress Eugenie Wooden Body :
$3156.79