No. 08

Bru Jne

French Antique Reproduction

Details

Original

Bru Jeune & Cie (Paris), Bebe Bru Jne, 1880s

Artist

Barb Hurst or Hildegard Weidner (to be confirmed)

Made at

Bob Severns seminar

About this doll

An olive velvet hat with a feather, a white curly wig, a gold smocked dress with a velvet vest and a lace sash: this is a reproduction of the 'Bru Jne' bebe, the most prized of all French antique dolls.

The doll was made at a seminar given by Bob Severns, a winner of the D.A.G Millie award who has taught dollmaking and costuming for more than thirty years and specializes in French fashion dolls. The maker is either Barb Hurst or Hildegard Weidner; the initials on the back of the head will settle the question.

Background

Bru was founded in Paris in 1866 by Leon Casimir Bru, whose wife Appolyne, a seamstress, costumed the dolls. The firm won a silver medal at the Paris Exposition of 1878, launched the 'Bebe Brevete' in 1879 and the 'Bebe Bru Jne' in the 1880s, and passed to Henri Chevrot in 1883 and to Paul Girard around 1890 before joining SFBJ in 1899.

The Bru Jne bebe is known for its pressed-bisque swivel head on a kid-edged bisque shoulder plate, deep paperweight glass eyes, a closed mouth with the tip of the tongue showing between slightly parted lips, and a kid body with bisque forearms and the delicate 'ballerina hands'. Originals of 35-50 cm now bring 10,000 to 16,000 dollars and more at auction, which is one reason fine reproductions are so loved by collectors.

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