An Outstanding and Extremely Rare French Bisque Doll by Albert Marque
Lot #17
22" (56 cm.) Bisque socket head with
highly-artistic sculpting achieved by a unique
four-part mold used only for this doll,prominent
definition of facial planes,softly-rounded
nose,heart-shaped face with elongated slender
throat,brown glass paperweight eyes,thick dark
eyeliner,painted dark curly lashes,feathered
brows,accented eye corners,shaded nostrils,closed
mouth with petulantly-shaped lips,well-modeled
pierced ears,original brunette human hair
hand-tied wig,original uniquely modeled body with
elongated tapered-shape torso,wide hips,undefined
waist,composition upper arms,bisque lower arms
with bisque attached-ball-joints at the
elbows,separately sculpted fingers,wide upper
thighs,elongated lower legs with shapely
calves,elongated narrow feet. Condition: generally
excellent. Marks: A. Marque (incised signature) 65
(inscribed number on head) Cauchoise (pencil
signature on foot). Comments: France,circa
1916,the artistic doll was commissioned from and
sculpted by the esteemed French sculptor,Albert
Marque,for an exhibition presented by Parisian art
patron,Margaine-Lacroix in her fashion boutique.
It is believed that only about 100 models of the
Marque doll were created,most bearing their
particular number in the series,this being #65,and
some still bearing the pencil notation on their
foot describing their costume,this being
Cauchoise,referring to French Normandy region of
Caux,near to Rouen. The history of the doll from
1916 to 1943 is not known,although at some point
it was acquired by the North Carolina
antiquarian,Mr. Tipton,whose antique shop in
Charlotte and summer shop in the luxury resort
town of Blowing Rock,North Carolina presented
prestige art objects. In 1943,Mr. Tipton sold this
doll to its present owner who cherished and
preserved for its next 67 years until its
presentation at this auction (the name of this
owner will be available to the buyer). The Marque
dolls were presented at their 1916 Paris
Exhibition in costumes of one of three major
themes,this being from the theme of dolls in
historical French costumes,namely Cauchoise (the
other themes were French court and Russian
folklore). Value Points: superbly preserved
condition of the extremely rare doll,with
outstanding quality of bisque and
painting,original wig,perfect original
body,original undergarments,signed shoes,and
superb ivory silk faille costume with patterned
flowers,black velvet ribbon trim,rose silk apron
with lace edging,silk sash,earrings,cameo brooch.
