Limoges began making porcelain doll heads around 1915 through to 1924. Many Limoges Dolls were made by Lanternier who made bisque socket head child or lady dolls. The child dolls had a jointed composition and wood body while lady doll heads were mounted on five piece lady bodies. They had open mouths with both upper & lower teeth, open closed mouths, painted ,glass or paperweight eyes lined in black, some dolls have pierced ears, wigged, in sizes 12 to 36″ tall.
Limoges bisque head doll
With fixed blue glass eyes, open mouth with moulded upper teeth and brown wig, on a fully jointed composition body, wearing a white cotton dress with red bonnet, (hands over-painted), 36cm (14in) tall. Sold for £100 at Bonhams
BEAUTIFUL ANTIQUE FRENCH BISQUE HEAD DOLL. INCISED ~ LIMOGES FRANCE / 9 ~ BLUE SLEEP EYES, CREAMY SMOOTH COMPLEXION, WITH NO HAIRLINES OR REPAIRS. A COUPLE OF SPOTS ON HEAD WHERE PAINT IS A LITTLE LIGHTER SHADE, PIERCED EARS, ANTIQUE LIGHT BROWN WIG. ORIGINAL FRENCH COMPOSITION BODY WITH ORIGINAL PAINT AND FINISH. PAINT CHIP ON KNEE OTHERWISE MINOR RUBS. SHE COMES DRESS IN AN ANTIQUE STYLE SLEEVELESS DRESS WITH PLEATED SKIRT AND LACE ACCENTS. DRESS IN NICE CONDITION. FABULOUS ANTIQUE LEATHER SHOES, WEAR TO TOES. SHE IS 21″ TALL. Sold For: $295 at Elate Estate Sales
FRENCH BISQUE BEBE “FAVORITE” BY LANTERNIER. Marks: Favorite A.L & Cie Limoges. 24”. Bisque socket head, stationary brown glass eyes, painted lashes, feathered brows, open mouth, accented lips, upper teeth, brown human hair wig, French wooden and composition jointed body, straight wrists, pink silk dress, no shoes. Commentary: Fine quality bisque, body refinished, stringing loosened, small brown speck on tooth. Sold For: $200 at Frasher’s Doll Auction
FRENCH LANTERNIER BISQUE-HEAD CHARACTER CHILD DOLL, socket head with bisque shoulder plate, incised “Limoges / FRANCE / 01″, blue glass eyes, open mouth with four exposed teeth, pierced ears, brown hair wig, leather body. Vintage clothing, probably original, comprising a scroll jacket and matching skirt, undergarments and shoes. Late 19th/early 20th century. 13” HOA.
Very good condition, head with manufacturing imperfections including a separation under nose and another to ear, face with scattered light red spots, hands with moderate wear. Clothing with expected wear.
Provenance: Property deaccessioned from a Virginia institution to benefit the collections and conservation funds. Sold For: $110 at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates
Bisque head, composition body and limbs, jointed neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, and legs, long light brown wig, hand painted eyebrows, rosy cheeks and lips, open mouth smile, blue glass eyes, pierced ears (no earrings), composition body is in good condition, hands may have been repaired. Back of head marked “Limoges France 8”. Sold For: $170 at The Auction House Sacramento
