A rare and exceptional antique French fashion poupée attributed to the firm of Léon Casimir Bru, Paris, dating to approximately 1875–1885. 

The closed mouth shows pale apricot-tinted lips with a subtle smiling expression — the hallmark of the Bru poupée a remarkable original trousseau of accessories.

Head & Face:

The doll carries a pressed bisque shoulder head with incised number "5" at the back of the head and letter "I" on the shoulder plate — a dual-marking system fully documented as characteristic of Bru poupée production, where the number on the head and the letter on the shoulder plate served distinct functions within the firm's manufacturing system. The letter "I" corresponds to Bru's proprietary alphabetical size code incised directly into the bisque, confirming a doll height in the 47 cm range.

The face presents a beautifully individual character with delicate applied lash lines, softly painted feathered brows, and large fixed blue glass enamel eyes. The closed mouth shows pale apricot-tinted lips with a subtle smiling expression — the hallmark of the Bru poupée face of the 1870s.

Condition:

The shoulder plate and forehead and side of the face exhibit fine bisque hairlines — honest, age-related wear entirely consistent with a 140+ year old doll. These do not detract from the beauty of the piece and are typical of found examples from this period.

Body:

The original kid leather body is of classic French fashion doll construction: gusseted at the knees and elbows, with kid leather lower arms and individually stitched leather hands — the standard Bru poupée body configuration of this period. The body shows age-appropriate patina and some patch repair on one of the legs, consistent with the circa 1875–1885 era. 

Wig & Hair

The doll retains a dark brunette human hair wig styled in an upswept coiffure with a long braided plait tied with a light blue ribbon. 

Accessories & Costume

This poupée is accompanied by an extraordinary suite of original and period-appropriate accessories:

Opera glasses (lorgnette): Miniature real bone and gilt binocular pendant suspended from a black oxidized metal chain necklace

Drop earrings: Amber-coloured teardrop earrings with botanical/leaf motif in Japanese-style lacquer, suspended from silver wire hoops

White fur (ermine-style) stole: Draped over the shoulders with long tails — highest fashion of the Second Empire and early Third Republic

Mauve silk taffeta gown: Full-skirted with ruched hem trim in gold ribbon, long sleeves with cuffed ruffles, embroidered broderie anglaise lace collar — consistent with c. 1870–1880

Velvet drawstring evening reticule with metallic frame and decorative cross-shaped closure

Attribution:

Léon Casimir Bru founded his Paris doll firm in 1866, and the poupée — a bisque-headed fashion lady doll — was his earliest and most celebrated product. The firm's alphabetical size-letter system incised on the shoulderplate, combined with a separate numeral on the head, is a confirmed and documented Bru marking practice. The kid leather gusseted body with leather hands, closed smiling mouth, and fixed glass enamel eyes are all hallmarks of Bru's finest poupée production of the 1870

Shipping:

Please note: Due to the high value and rarity of this doll, shipping will be handled exclusively via DHL Express. This ensures secure, insured, and expedited delivery with professional handling throughout the journey.

To ensure smooth delivery and complete necessary paperwork, buyers must provide a valid phone number and e-mail address at checkout.

NB:

All vintage items are sold as-is; pleas message for any extra photos or questions before purchasing.