French Bisque Dolls in Brittany Wedding Costumes

24" and 25" (61 and 63 cm). Each doll has a bisque shoulderhead with plumply modelled facial features, cobalt blue glass inset eyes, dark eyeliner, painted lashes, arched feathered brows, accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth with accented lips, ears pierced into head, well detailed blushing, French pink kid fashion body with gusset jointed elbows, stitched and separated fingers, shapely plump bodies with one piece shaped legs. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: F. 8. G. (boy). Comments: Gaultier, circa 1869, according to Seeley's book, Doll Costuming, the dolls were once accompanied by a paper label reading "Brittany Wedding, 1869". Value Points: exceptional size of the early poupees wearing their original well- preserved folklore costumes from the Finistiere region of Brittany, the man with black jacket, sleeveless vest ("chupen"), flared pants ("bragou braz") with tasseled yarn ties at the knees, fitted leggings, black cap, all trimmed with elaborate embroidery; the woman with fitted bodice under black sleevesless vest, red wooden skirt, coiffe, undergarments. The pair of dolls graced the front entrance hall of the Seeley home for more than two decades.