The Guyot Shoe Mark
The bottom of the shoe has the incised mark “A LA TENTATION 22 PASSAGE VENDOME PARIS.” A La Tentation was an old doll shop at the said address owned by a manufacturer named Guyot.
According to the Annuaire-almanach du commerce, in 1879, Mon Guyot manufactured dressed dolls at the address of 22 Passage Vendome in Paris.
In 1888 the shop is called a “parfumerie fine” as well as a shop specializing in dressed and undressed unbreakable baby dolls, repairs, costumes and various toys at the address of Passage Vendome 22. In the same year Guyot included another listing for his shop at multiple addresses of Passage Vendome at 22, 23 and 25.
In 1889 the shop had the address of Passage Vendome 22, 23, and 25. Mon Guyot continued to advertise the selling of fine dolls, unbreakable baby dolls, repairs, and various toys.
In 1890 Guyot announced a change in address at “5 Place de la République” and included that he also sold leather goods, dolls with wooden joints, as well as costumes or doll clothing.
Gaston Thalheimer
Guyot sold A La Tentation to GAston Thalheimer. The Encyclopedia of French Dolls claims this happened in 1903. Thalheimer’s name appears earlier on a French trademark registration for Bebe Tentation dated November 14, 1900.
The Bebe Tentation trademark names Sylvain Thalheimer et Cie, A La Tentation, Bebes & Jouets, 5 Place de la Republique, Paris. The mark itself gives the addresses of 5 Place de la Republique as well as the 23, 25, 27 Passage Vendome, Paris. The brand marque designated a name for baby dolls and fashion dolls of different kinds & manufactures that could be reproduced in different designs & sizes and also used for toys.
The Encyclopedia of French Dolls
The Encyclopedia of French Dolls by Francois & Danielle Theimer shows a later A LA TENTATION shoe mark from the years the shop had relocated to the Republique address. The image appears on page 15 of volume one. Volume two has a section of various antique french shoe marks but this shoe mark with the address of 22 Passage Vendome does not appear.
A La Tentation Doll Shoe Measurements
This tiny Guyot shoe measured about 4.5 cm long and 2 cm wide. It was found alone without its pair in a shoe lot that came up for auction in France. The auction house described the shoes in the lot as shoes for Bleuette dolls. One has to wonder though because Bleuette did not appear on the market until 1905. The fun mystery asks, “Which tiny beautiful French doll first wore this A La Tentation doll shoe?”
