Etienne Denamur manufactured dolls in France during the 1890s. He claimed to make “Bebes Incassables” or ‘unbreakable baby dolls’ and gave them the name “Le Bambin” (the toddler). Denamur’s doll manufacturing ended in 1898 during a time when other larger famous doll manufacturers joined together in a large trade union for dolls and toys that officially formed in 1899.
Background of Etienne Denamur
Before Etienne Denamur manufactured dolls or bebes, he worked manufacturing decorative porcelain. One can learn of Etienne-Jean Denamur from French publications as early as 1882. In 1882 newspapers announced that Denamur replaced “Mr. Viller” as an appointed administrator of a charity office of the 20th arrondissement or prefect in Paris. An announcement appears on page 795 in the “Collection of Administrative acts of the Prefecture of the Seine Department” or (Recueil des actes administratifs de la Préfecture du département de la Seine). The statement says that Denamur resided at Rue des Rondonneaux n. 5.
The same announcement appeared in the newspaper entitled Bulletin Municipal Officiel for September 2, 1882.
Denamur advertised his manufacturing of porcelain in the “green pages” or “pages verte” of the French Annual Almanac of Commerce. The ad mentions porcelain flower arrangements. (The green pages displayed maker marks or manufacturer trademarks in the early pages of some issues of the Almanac.)
The below Denamur advertising label was found in the 1884 almanac on page 21.
Later in the same almanac (p. 1234) the Denamur listing gives more details. Along with porcelain flowers, he mentions hand fixed bouquets, mirrors, photography frames, jewelry, wreaths, commissions, and exported goods. Address given is rue des Rondonneaux 5 near town hall just as listed on the green pages label.
Etienne Denamur Dolls
In 1890 Etienne Denamur shows up in the French Almanac of Commerce listed with other doll makers. He announces a large factory of unbreakable baby dolls called “The Toddler,” or “Le Bambin,” with a new type of articulation, the best articulation in fact, most graceful and most advanced dolls to date, and much less expensive than other dolls of the same kind. (Annuaire-Alamanach Du Commerce, 1891, p. 877.)
In 1890 his listing advertises an address of 61 and 63, rue des Prairies, as a large factory of unbreakable babies. It claims that “LE BAMBIN” is a new baby doll guaranteed unbreakable, with new joints. The doll stands, sits, kneels and performs all human movements. It’s the most graceful and the most perfected to date, a new series of BON MARCHÉ (cheap) articulated babies.
His earlier dolls had fixed eyes, closed mouths, sturdy french made articulated doll bodies and fixed wrists like many earlier French dolls. Later in the 1890s the Denamur dolls began having movable wrists and open mouths. They usually have very thick eyebrows that come close together and higher foreheads than other French doll heads.
Later in the 1890s the Denamur doll bodies seem to have bodies made of more papier mache. Legs have different thigh joints and don’t have the same balance for standing as at first. The lesser quality reflects the financial challenges that Denamur faced in the competitive world of doll making during the decade.
Etienne Denamur Doll Mark
The back of the Etienne Denamur Doll has an incised mark of his initials E.D. with a number in the middle indicating the size of the doll head. The word DEPOSE may be incised underneath.
(See some other antique French doll markings here.)
Etienne Denamur Advertising Listings 1892-1897
Denamur continued to announce in the Almanac of Commerce his large factory in 1892 and in 1894 with graceful articulated less expensive dolls. He continued to mention the removal of thigh notches or ball joints so that the thigh of the leg is one piece. (p. 902 of 1894). The Alamanac’s listing for Denamur also continues to use the Prairies address. “Denamur, (E.), fab. de bebes incassables, rue des Prairies, 61-63” (manufacturer of unbreakable baby dolls). (p. 348). These listings continue into 1897.
Denamur is listed along with the Gaultier Brothers in the Official Toys & Games Directory of 1897. (Annuaire Officiel des Jouets & Jeux, p. 206).
The End of the 1890s and the Changes in French Doll Manufacturing
In January of 1898 Denamur appeared in newspapers or journals announcing the liquidation of his assets.
Du 26 Janvier, Denamur (Etienne-Jean), fab, de bebes en porcelaine, rue des Prairies, 61. – Liquid. Prov., M. Maile, 6, rue du Pont-de Lodi.
Journal Officiel de La Repulique Francaise
Then publications announce Etienne Denamurs abandonment or liquidation of his assets to bankruptcy on the 2nd of June 1898 such as in the Journal for the Ceramics Trade Union and Le Rappel.
Despite this Denamur appears in 1899 for poupees at the address of Prairies 61 in a publication entitled “Paris-Hachette : annuaire illustré de Paris.”
Some Global Context for Bankruptcy in the French Doll Industry of the 1890s
During that the late 1800s, some European countries adopted new laws and agreements to prevent counterfeiting that changed their import/export laws. As a result Germany started marking all their export products with “Germany” or “made in Germany.” The impact of the change actually redirected buyers to go directly to Germany for the less expensive products.
Germany’s industrial growth after 1890 was massive. French doll manufacturers, like Denamur evidently could not keep up with the German competition. Denamur may have had other personal issues that contributed to his bankruptcy, but the doll market of the time probably made those issues even harder.
The only French doll manufacturers that seemed to stay in business seemed to be those who sold out to or joined forces with the newly formed French trade union for dolls and toys (Société Française de Fabrication de Bébés et Jouets). The union’s formation was announced in 1899. (Archives commerciales de la France : journal hebdomadaire, p. 503).
To understand the time that impacted Denamur’s business, an interesting inquiry might be to look at which manufacturers of dolls in France joined the SFBJ and which did not. Which of those doll manufacturers like Etienne Denamur that did not join the union stay in business through the turn of the century?
As the world knows the struggles that faced France and Germany in the next two decades, one cannot help but feel the friction building when reading about doll manufacturers like Etienne Denamur.
1908 Jouets Entrennes Catalog
One can view a version of a costume that “Le Bambin” wore in 1908 in a Jouets Entrennes catalogue online here.
Further Reading:
See more antique French doll trademarks here.
Click here to read about the Rabery-Delphieu French dolls made during the same time period as Etienne Denamur and sometimes confused with Denamur dolls.