“We were searching for a doll with a loyal, dedicated fan base,” says Paul Yuan of the China-based Leannie Co., when asked about the company’s recent introduction of Bleuette dolls. “We wanted to attract collectors that demanded the kind of no-nonsense, high-quality dolls we manufacture. And we wanted to reach caring customers who desired the kind of specialized doll accessories and clothing that we offer on our Web platform through Ruby Red Galleria.” The company searched “high and low” and finally reached what it felt was a “logical conclusion” -- Bleuette, with her vast wardrobe and quality-minded fans, was a perfect fit.
Bleuette by Leannie Co. arrives unclothed, with pierced ears, an auburn wig, and 10-mm acrylic eyes. Her eyes and wig can be changed easily, and her handpainted eyebrows, lashes, blush, and lips can be cleaned off for repainting if desired. The Ruby Red Galleria staff has designed an extensive wardrobe, ranging from pantalets to day wear and including authentically styled shoes.
Whether you have longed for a Bleuette of your own or your present Bleuette needs a play-pal, the new resin Bleuette from Leannie Co. will fit perfectly into your collection. You can dress her in fashions you may already own, sew for her using some of the more than 1,060 original patterns already in existence, or choose beautiful clothing and accessories made just for her.
Who Is Bleuette?
The original Bleuette was introduced in 1905 as a promotional premium for purchasers of a one-year subscription to La Semaine de Suzette, a popular French magazine for girls first published in Paris by Henri Gautier. The doll was intended not only to boost subscriptions but to promote desirable skills for young ladies -- sewing in particular. The magazine, published weekly, also promised a pattern for the doll in each issue.
The first Bleuette was a Jumeau doll by the Société Française de Fabrication de Bébés et Jouets (SFBJ), a loose group of French doll makers that had banned together for better visibility in a new global market that included the U.S.A. The first edition -- an estimated 20,000 dolls -- was completely sold out before the first dolls were released.
The Premiere Bleuette, as the first dolls became known as, was 27 centimeters (10½ inches) tall with a bisque head and fully jointed, composition body. During the years the doll was available to subscribers, she went through five facial changes, including one head made of composition. Her height was increased in the early l930s by 2 centimeters, bringing her to 29 centimeters (11½ inches). Bleuette was offered in a plastic version after World War II.
The promotion proved to be immensely popular and was offered for more than five decades, from l905 until 1960. More than 1,060 patterns were published in the magazine during those years. Bleuette’s popularity waned after La Semaine de Suzette ceased publication in l960 but surged again in the l990s when collectors who liked to sew rediscovered this little doll and her wide variety of patterns.
