In 1908, French designer and illustrator Francisque Poulbot created a series of porcelain dolls in order to compete with the hold of German toys on the French market. The dolls named Nénette (male) and Rintintin (female) became famous amongst the soldiers and the French population. During the war, they were modestly made of wool and were offered as lucky charms for soldiers and civilians exposed to bombings and air raids. In order to reap the good luck, however, there were conditions - the dolls had to be given, exchanged or received. A manufactured doll could not protect the person who made it. Secondly, they could not be separated or they would lose their powers of protection. It was rumored that the dolls were tenderly named after the nicknames Poulbot and his wife used for each other and they were sometimes accompanied by their child, P’tit Lardon, also known as Radadou. The dolls remained popular until the 1950s, symbolizing, for some, the inseparable couple.
Rintintin made it to America after the war. In September of 1918, Corporal Lee Duncan of the U.S. Army Air Service rescued a German shepherd and her newborn puppies. He nursed them back to health, then gave several of the dogs to fellow airmen. The two he kept he named Nanette and Rin Tin Tin, as his own good luck charms, and brought them back with him to the U.S. The Americanized Rin Tin Tin, and a few of his descendants, would become American film and television stars from the 1920s through the 1950s.
Nénette and Rintintin charms are scarce to begin with, even scarcer accompanied by their child. These enamel versions were crafted in 18k and weigh 4.4g. They measure approximately 19mm x 12mm, 19.3mm x 13.4mm, 10.5mm x 9.4mm .... and hang about 29mm. Wear commensurate with age and use. A wonderful and historic charm set born out of the French Resistance.
* Drawing by Francisque Poulbot and antique cards for reference only.
* Listing is for charm only.
* Cart total includes Fedex shipping within N. America. Please message for other countries.
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