Exceptionally Rare French Bisque Art-Character 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,heart-shaped face with elongated slender
throat,pronounced definition of facial planes especially
temple,cheeks and chin line,softly-rounded nose tip,blue
glass paperweight eyes with spiral threading and darker
blue outer rims,thick dark eyeliner,painted dark curly
lashes,brush-stroked and feathered brows,accented eye
corners,shaded nostrils,closed mouth with petulantly-
shaped outlined lips,well-modeled pierced ears,blonde
mohair softly-curled 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,left baby finger cleanly reglued at base. Marks:
A. Marque (incised signature) 23 (inscribed number on
head) Comments: France,circa 1916,the artistic doll was
sculpted by the esteemed French artist,Albert Marque,for
an exclusive exhibition that was to be presented by
Parisian art patron,Margaine-Lacroix in her fashion
boutique. The body was exclusively designed for this art
doll by Aristodeme Botta who aimed to create a child's
body for a doll that "combined the strength and grace
typical of that age". It is believed that only 100 models
of the Marque doll were created,most inscribed with their
particular number in the series,this being #23. Value
Points: outstanding beauty of this particular model,with
exceptionally fine sculpting detail allowing full
expression of the artist's design,very choice delicate
bisque and subtle painting,original custom body,and
wearing antique silk dress,and lace bonnet that may be
original,and muslin chemise and black shoes imprinted with
full figure of a doll and "10" that are original.
