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Our
Storefront exhibit of French bisque dolls
French
& German Bisque Dolls
French
antique bisque head dolls, manufactured between 1870 and 1910, are highly
sought after by the serious collector. The dolls, generally modeled
after 4-year-old children, are characterized by jointed
composition bodies, bisque turning heads, large stationary paper
weight eyes, human hair or mohair hair and intelligent-looking,
fine-quality faces.
Emile
Jumeau was the leading French doll manufacturer. His Portrait,
Triste face, E.J. and incised Jumeau dolls are highly valued. Tete Jumeaus,
although more common, are also sought by collectors.
To
cope with German competition in 1899, Jumeau organized the Societe
Francaise de Fabrication de Bebes et Jouets (S.F.B.J.). French
dolls on display include Jumeaus, S.F.B.J.'s, Brus, Steiners, and
Rayberry & Delphieus.
Between 1870 and 1914, Germany manufactured the greatest number of
dolls. The reason for German predominance include: low wages, availability
of materials, government subsidization, and manufacturing techniques.
Because
of their low selling price, high numbers sold. German antique bisque head
dolls have yet to achieve the value of the more rare French dolls,
but are often of the same quality.
Antique
German dolls on display in Yesterday's Children include, in order of
value, Kestner, Kammer & Rheinhardt, Simon & Halbig, Heinrich
Handwerk, Konig & Woernike, Alt Beck & Gottchalk, Bahr &
Prothchilde, Schoenau & Hoffmeister, Heubach, Gebruder,
Kuhnlenz, Kley & Hahn, C.N. Bergman and Armand Marseille.
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