Onsite
Highest Bidder
$21,000
Sold
sold
Click image to enlarge
- Estimate
- $20,000 / $30,000
Gold Horse ListingDescription
24" (61 cm.) Bisque socket head, deeply-intaglio sculpted painted blue eyes in half-moon shape, black and incised eyeliner, short feathered brows with sculpted detail, accented nostrils of pointy tip nose, closed mouth with shaded and outlined lips, deeply impressed dimples at lip corners and cheeks create a smiling expression, brunette mohair wig, composition and wooden ball-jointed body, wearing antique schoolgirl pinafore dress, pink woven stockings, shoes. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Germany A 7 M. Comments: Marseille, from their series of rare art character dolls, circa 1910. Value Points: superb artistry of the model is exemplified by the notion that the child is smiling although the lips are perfectly solemn; the expression is achieved through the impressed dimples and the painting of the eyes; finest quality of bisque and painting on the extremely rare model in wonderful large size.
Stuart's Take
There will never be a question that Kammer and Reinhardt and Simon and Halbig have the name when it comes to character dolls. But at some point we need to understand and respect the approach by Armand Marseille. Yes, on the one hand they were creating more egalitarian products that were well distributed and affordable. But their art character series, of which so few ever come to auction (especially in this size) rival those aforementioned firms. Dare I say even go head to head with them. In some ways it was a genius plan, affordable dolls that were accessible to all blended with art luxury dolls created for special markets. This example, one of my personal favorites, if compared to K*R, is as defined, and beautifully sculpted.