22 Closed Mouth Tete Jumeau 10, Bebe Jumeau Stamp on Torso, circa 1895

  

A beautiful 22 closed mouth Tete Jumeau size 10 doll offered by Snowdrift Antiques. Jumeau produced their highly successful Tete Jumeau bebe dolls from 1885 through 1899. The poured bisque heads had either closed or open mouths. The paperweight eyes were either blue or brown.

The Jumeau body is typically composition and wood with integrated ball joints and is stamped Bebe Jumeau in back. The lovely creamy bisque and serene expression are hallmarks of this Jumeau line. This Tete Jumeau beauty has a poured bisque head, the bisque has a gorgeous creamy quality.

Her head is stamped in back in red ink: DEPOSE / TETE JUMEAU / BTE S. Her lovely face includes beautiful blue paperweight eyes, painted dark brown eyelashes and brows, beautifully accented nostrils, softly blushed chubby cheeks, and a sweet light red painted closed mouth. She has pierced ears but does not wear any earrings. The head is free from hairlines or restorations, see lit image 7. There are two tiny nips to the bisque at her right earring hole, see image 11, these are rather typical and don't detract from her presentation. She retains her original cork pate and has a lovely vintage French blonde human hair wig with long, corkscrew curls. The wig and pate are not attached/glued to her head. The wig is held onto the pate with a pin. She has an 11-piece wood and composition jointed body; the ball joints are integrated.

It does not appear that the body has been repainted or touched up. There is some normal age-related wear to the composition, mainly at the joints and some finger tips, and her chest by the neck socket in front has an indent, please refer image 11 and to the pictures of her undressed. The body imperfections are not noticeable once she is dressed. She appears to have been restrung years ago.

The torso is stamped in back in blue ink: BEBE JUMEAU / Diplome d'Honneur. She wears a period outfit of vintage and antique fabrics and trims; it is newer than the doll and was made expertly for her. The coat is an ecru silk faille fabric with ecru silk taffeta lapels and is lined with a tan color china silk. The coat is piped with an ecru color silk cord. In back is a large matching bow.

There are pretty rosette tassel and Chinese knot embellishments on the coat. It attaches to the dress with hooks and eyes. The sleeveless dress is made of the same silk faille with rouched ecru silk taffeta across the front. The attached pleated skirt is made from the same silk taffeta.

The dress is also lined in the tan china silk. The rosette tassel embellishments are also present on the dress.

The dress closes in back with a button at the neck and snaps down the back. Her underclothes consist of her antique white cotton and lace trimmed chemise, white cotton pantaloons, a white cotton slip. She also has on an antique heavy white cotton corset. Her large hat is made of the same ecru silk taffeta and embellished with ecru silk ribbon looped in front. The hat is held onto her head with a wide satin ribbon tied under her chin and an old faux pearl hat pin.

She carries a coordinating drawstring purse on her right wrist, the perfect accessory for a shopping trip with her mom. Her Jumeau brown leather shoes are embossed with 10 / PARIS / a bumble bee / DEPOSE. The right shoe has a lot of wear at the toes, see image 10.

The lace rosettes are replacements. She wears fancy white knitted socks.

This doll is from a private collection housed in a smoke-free home. Overall, a superb example of a closed mouth Tete Jumeau doll that would be a wonderful addition to any collection. Convenient 3 month layaway plan is available upon request.