French Bisque Doll by Albert Marque, #5 of Limited Series, Trousseau, Suffragette
Lot #28
22" (56 cm.) Bisque socket head created with distinctive four-part mold allowing pronounced definition of facial structure especially at her temple and cheek bones, elongated slender throat that accentuates the plump lower cheeks and chin, softly rounded nose tip, hazel-brown glass paperweight eyes, thick dark eyeliner, painted dark curly lashes, brush-stroked and feathered brows, accented eye corners, shaded nostrils, closed mouth with solemn expression on the outlined lips, distinctively modeled pierced ears, original brunette mohair 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, one elbow ball joint is reglued with small missing piece, there is an original firing distinction on the forehead (under wig). Marks: A, Marque (incised signature of the artist) 5 (red ink number on the head) Mrs. Haverfield (pencil inscription on foot). Comments: France, circa 1916, designed by noted Parisian sculptor Albert Marque, as part of a movement to re-invigorate the French doll industry; the movement involved sculptors, porcelain firms, fashion designers and virtually the entire Parisian art community including the couture studio of Margaine-Lacroix which created the original costumes for the very limited series of these dolls, believed to be less than 100. This doll is #5 from the series, and was designed to honor the English suffragette, Mrs. Haverfield. In addition, the doll owns two further costumes, one an ivory silk gown bearing the original silk label of Margaine-Lacroix, with original blue silk cape and pearl trimmed purse, and the other a mauve silk and lace negligee. The doll was featured in an article "The Artful Dolls of Margaine-Lacroix" written by Samy Odin and appearing in the March 2013 issue of Antique Doll Collector. Value Points: the desirability of the doll, an aspect of its extraordinarily artistic sculpture, expression, and quality, is enhanced by its rarity, its early number 5 from the series, its additional original costumes, its Musee de la Poupee provenance and in this singular example of the Marque doll, its presentation as a woman of its time. Evelina Haverfield was a noted member of the British suffragette movement during the early years of 1900s. Historical accounts of her work appear in numerous online searches and printed books. Of particular interest regarding this present doll was her promotion of "Omne Tempus" all weather gear, described as "the ideal coat for town, country or Campaigning". The brown woolen ensemble worn by this present doll, a notable departure from other Margaine-Lacroix costumes for the Albert Marque doll, was clearly inspired by this style, just as Margaine-Lacroix was likely influenced by the growing suffragette movement in France and England.
