LANDMARK, THE MARGARET LUMIA COLLECTION

Saturday, January 12, 2019Lots 1-341

January 12, 2019 in Newport Beach, California


Only rarely do collections appear with such significance that they can rightfully be labeled legendary or lodestar. Or “Landmark”. Which is the auction title of the collection of Margaret Lumia. Chosen with a discerning eye, acquired with a dogged persistence, and nurtured carefully during their time in her care, her dolls offer today’s collectors a rare opportunity to see – and, perhaps win – a magnificent treasure from time past. The collection ranges from fine early wood and paper mache to superb French bébés and poupées, to the rarest of the German bisque art characters, mostly all in original costumes. There are dollhouses, early doll furniture, and more. Softbound. 10" x 10". 204 pages.

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Showing 1 - 341 of 341

Extremely Rare French Bisque Art Character, Model 219, from the Jumeau 200 Series

Extremely Rare French Bisque Art Character, Model 219, from the Jumeau 200 Series

Lot #40

20" (51 cm.) Bisque socket head with deeply-sculpted very expressive features, blue glass inset eyes in very narrow squinting sockets, lightly-painted all-around lashes, brushstroked and feathered brows, accented nostrils of rounded nose tip, mouth modeled in wide scowl with open curled-sideways lips, well-defined tongue, row of sculpted upper teeth, row of sculpted teeth tips at the lower lip, pierced ears, brunette human hair wig over cork pate, French composition and wooden ball-jointed body, wearing antique woolen trousers and double-breasted jacket with brass buttons, woven cap, signed Jumeau leather shoes, and carrying French pocket watch on fob. Condition: generally excellent, original body and body finish. Marks: 219 8. Comments: Emile Jumeau, circa 1890s, from his 200 art character series. This series was original created by him under commission from automaton makers who wished to have facial models that captured the mood of the mechanical actions they designed. Jumeau quickly realized that the models could also be created in classic doll form (with socket heads rather than the flat-cut neck that was needed for automata) and, in 1892, introduced his line. Always considered luxury pieces, few of the dolls were ever made, and this model 219 is exceptionally rare. The Jumeau Book by Theimer and Theriault, indicates that no examples were known at the time of publication of that book, and the 1899 Jumeau inventory stated only 41 examples existed in the Jumeau archives at that time, making it one of the rarest of the models, and likely the only extant example. Value Points: extremely rare model with outstanding sculpting of frown lines and eye and mouth indentations, finest quality of bisque and painting.

 
Extremely Rare French Bisque "Bebe Gourmand" by Leon Casimir Bru

Extremely Rare French Bisque "Bebe Gourmand" by Leon Casimir Bru

Lot #157

18" (46 cm.) Pressed bisque swivel head on kid-edged bisque shoulder plate with modeled bosom and shoulderblades, very full cheeks and throat, blue glass paperweight inset eyes with spiral threading, thick dark eyeliner, painted lashes, rose-blushed eyeshadow, delicately feathered brows, accented eye corners and nostrils, open mouth with shaded and accented lips, porcelain tongue inside the head set in framework allowing the long tongue to be "stuck out" to receive a biscuit and then tip backward as though swallowing, kid bebe torso, upper legs and arms, bisque forearms with exquisitely sculpted hands, bisque lower legs from above the knee, bisque feet with open soles. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: (circle/dot symbol on head) Bte SGDG (forehead) 1 T (right shoulder) (original paper label on torso). Comments: Leon Casimir Bru, his Bebe Gourmand, first advertised by Bru in 1882 as "delicieux bebe a surprise"; although he described the bebe as a registered model no record of its depose has been found. The bebe has two hollow tubes hidden inside the torso, and when a tiny biscuit is placed on the tongue, it falls backward as though being swallowed, falls through one of the tubes, and comes out through one of the open foot soles. Value Points: exceptionally rare, few models are known to exist, original condition, with outstanding quality of bisque and sculpting especially notable in hands and muscular legs, choicest bisque and complexion, superbly painted features and splendid eyes, wonderful antique costume.