Louis H. Bonvoisin, DeFuisseaux, Ernest Villain Dolls Belgium
Louis Herman Bonvoisin LHB Dolls 1907+ Belgium
Not much is known about the Belgium doll maker Louis Herman Bonvoisin of Verviers, Pont St. Laurent 14, Belgium, who assembled bisque shoulder head dolls on kid leather bodies, marked L.H.B. Made in Germany, by the Armand Marseille doll factory.
Louis Herman Bonvoisin Doll Mark Identified
DeFuisseaux DFB Art Dolls 1909+ Belgium
Not much is known about the Belgium doll maker DeFuisseaux, also spelled Finsseau, it is accepted however, that they began creating their stunning character art dolls about 1909 until around 1913, when their Baudour factory was destroyed during World War I. Dolls have a bisque shoulder or socket head, glass or painted intaglio eyes, various sizes, cloth, composition or wood jointed bodies.
Some DeFuisseaux doll markings are B3, B4, DB, DFB, and F1, F2, F3 which were made for them by the French firm of Fleischmann & Bloedel (or Blödel). Dolls are highly prized by collectors for both their rarity and artistic beauty. DeFuisseaux was part of the European art doll movement near the end of World War I, which also included the French doll makers Albert Marque, Van Rozen and Munich Art dolls by Marion Kaulitz and others.
Don’t be surprised if you don’t find DeFuisseaux dolls for sale, like all the Art dolls of this era, they are rare.
DeFuisseaux Dolls and Doll Marks Identified
ca. 1909 DeFuisseaux Baudour dressed couple dolls 10″, bisque heads, glass eyes, closed mouth, composition & wood body, doll mark DFB 1
ca. 1911 DeFuisseaux painted eye Boy doll 24″ closed mouth, face, on a composition jointed body, doll mark DFB E4
DeFuisseaux doll marks DFB, F1, B3
ca. 1913 DeFuisseaux Boy doll, 15″ glass side glancing eyes, closed mouth, composition jointed body, doll mark F1
ca. 1913 DeFuisseaux Girl doll 18″ bisque head, glass eyes, closed mouth, composition jointed body, doll face, mark F1
Ernest Villain EVF Dolls 1932-1945 Belgium
The Ernest Villain doll factory was located in Forchies-la-Marche, Belgium. Founded in 1880 to manufacture various items, it wasn’t until 1932 Villain’s factory began making bisque head Baby or Dolly face dolls with composition jointed bodies, named Princesse Universelle. The Villian dolls are sized from about 22″ to a large 31 1/2″ tall.
By 1945 Ernest Villain’s doll factory also included rattle dolls that are marked Pu Courtrai. After World War II the Ernest Villain doll factory ceased.
shown left, ca. 1932 Ernest Villain, The Princesse Universelle doll has a bisque socket head, is 30″ tall, with multi stroke painted eyebrows, blue glass sleep eyes, an open mouth with two upper teeth, on a composition body jointed at the shoulders, elbows, wrist, hips and knees, doll mark EVF.
Ernest Villain Dolls and Doll Marks Identified
1932 Ernest Villain Princesse Universelle doll 30″, composition jointed body, doll mark EVF
Ernest Villain doll mark EVF
ca. 1935 Ernest Villain Princesse Universelle Baby doll 22″ face, doll mark EVF
ca. 1935 Ernest Villain Princesse Universelle Baby doll 22″, composition jointed bent limb body, doll mark EVF
Ernest Villain doll mark PU Courtrai
Ernest Villain photos courtesy of Valerie Phillips
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