Passed
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Description
9" (23 cm.) h. 19" circ. at bridge of nose. The human-sized bisque head has solid dome and
flat cut neck socket designed to slip onto a mannequin body form,yet can also sit flat for
display of coiffures or bonnets. The head has aristocratic angular features with strong shaping
of nose,cheek bones,chin and temple,blue glass paperweight eyes in deeply set sockets with
modeled eyelids,brush-stroked brows with feathered details,dark eyeliner,painted curly dark
lashes,accented eye corners,shaded nostrils,closed mouth with outlined shaded lips,blushed
details on eyelids,chin and superbly sculpted ears. There are original holes at top of head for
adhering wig or bonnet. Condition: generally excellent,factory-original bisque flake at back
side of left ear. Comments: attributed to Jumeau,circa 1885,who advertised mannequin heads
in his litany of products; an identical slightly larger model with full mannequin body was sold
by Theriault's in November 2007 although few examples of this model are known to exist.
Value Points: the rarity of the portrait head is enhanced by its superb sculpting,quality of
bisque and painting of features.