Posted 11 years ago
Gampe2660
(2 items)
This doll was pasted down from my grandma. The story goes that she got it from her uncle that was stationed in France during WWI. She does have markings on the back of her head very worn off it looks like SI B something Paris and 12/1. Would love to learn more about her. Has anyone else see. This "French Lady" ?
I believe it might say SFBJ . She is a French doll made of all bisque .
SFBJ (Société Française de Fabrication de Bébés et Jouets; also referred to as S.F.B.J.) was the last of the great French dollmaking companies. Formed at the nadir of French dollmaking at the end of the 19th Century,
SFBj was formed in 1899 by the remnants of several legendary French dollmaking companies that were in financial difficulties due to severe competition from the German dollmaking firms. These companies included Jumeau (known as Jumeau et Cie by then), Bru, Rabery, Bebe de Paris, Gaultier, Pintel and Godschaux and others. In addition, the German doll distributor Salomon Fleischmann provided a factory and cost-cutting methods to the syndicate; Fleischmann was living in France at the time of the formation of SFBJ due to his marriage to a French woman. SFBJ was somewhat successful with their syndicated (and cheaper) production, and the company lasted for many years.
You don't mention size but I am assuming 8-12 inches ? Lovely doll
She's 12 inches tall. Thank you so much for the information. It's nice to know the history of her.
I meant to add your doll was one made more as a novelty doll and not so much a play doll . SFBJ made some high quality dolls that were meant as dolls to play with , yours was often one brought home from a soldier or sent home to a wife or daughter ect .
Way to go Mani, you are the Grand Master of all things related to dolls.
Thank you Walksoft :-) it is nice to recieve such kind commments :-) And I do apprecite them . Now I know squat about machines though :-)
You're very welcome Sis, we can't be experts at everything. Collectively the knowledge of all the CW members is impressive, it's no wonder some of these mysteries get solved within minutes of being posted.