Antique French Bisque Doll, Paris 9 Mark, 1900

• Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
• Composition - Composition is a material used for dolls, sculpture and furniture. It is a type of composite material made from a mixture of materials such as sawdust, glue, and pigments. It is a popular material for dolls and figurines because it is lightweight and easy to work with. It is also used in furniture-making, particularly in the construction of decorative pieces such as figurines and sculptures. It is less common in high-end furniture as it is not as durable as some other materials such as wood or metal. However, it is a more affordable and accessible option for some types of decorative pieces.
• Open Mouth Doll - An "open mouth" doll is a doll with a mouth that is designed to be open showing moulded or inserted teeth, as if the doll is in the process of speaking or singing. This type of doll was first introduced in the late 19th century and became increasingly popular in the early 20th century. Open mouth dolls were typically made of bisque, a type of unglazed porcelain that is fired at a lower temperature than traditional porcelain. The open mouth design allowed doll manufacturers to create dolls with a more expressive, lifelike appearance, as the open mouth made it possible to add teeth, a tongue, and other features that added to the doll's realism. Open mouth dolls were often dressed in elaborate costumes and accessories, and were marketed to both children and adults as decorative objects.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• bisque dolls - unmarked and minor makers 283
• dolls - bebe dolls 6