#74

Important French Wooden Royal Court Doll Depicting Princess of Lamballe
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Live Auction

Onsite
$27,000
sold
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Estimate
$22,000 / $29,000
Description
23" (58 cm.) Carved wooden doll, carved hair away from face and forming into two ringlet curls that curls under the sculpted ears and with rolled curl at the back of head, well-defined carving of facial features, outlined tinted blue eyes, accented nostrils, closed mouth with mechanical tongue which slides in and out of mouth on an invisible slide, one-piece head invisibly attached to upper torso with defined breasts, detailed female sculpting of separate pelvis with screw-shank attachment to upper torso, cloth upper arms, carved wooden lower arms with large spatula hands, pin-jointing at hips of one-piece shapely lips, Condition: generally excellent. Comments: French, from the Royal Court Doll series of the late 1700s, the doll portrays the Princess of Lamballe, close confidante and friend of Marie Antoinette. Value Points: singular and important doll from the French Royal series is wearing superb gown "a la francaise" and with braided bodice. The doll is featured in the book Les Poupees Royale by Francois Theimer, which is included with the doll.
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Stuart's Take

I recently watched the movie, Napoleon, and was intrigued by Napoleon's rise during the pre and post revolution period. A time which the movie presented as a period of satire, especially of anyone who surrounded Marie Antoinette or the aristocracy of that time. Theater was ripe with these satires, as if people were hungry for comedy. One might say we do the same today? The difference being that back then they used dolls and actors as a form of media.

This, a portrait of Marie Thérèse Louise, The Princess of Lamballe, is a remarkable example of the satire that would explode in France during this period of the late 1700's. And her history was certainly as intriguing as the doll itself.

She became part of Marie Antoinette's court and unarguably her closest confidante. So close that rumors flourished throughout France that she was Marie's lover behind closed doors, often announced by the opposition as an attempt to disparage her. Over time, these rumors would result in the Princess to be cast away from Antoinette's court. Alas, she would return at the end of Marie's reign as a display of love and loyalty during her downfall. In the end she become a beloved, though controversial, figure in France given this loyalty.

Her final words when being questioned before her execution,

"Who are you?"
"Marie Thérèse Louise, Princess of Savoy."
"Your employment?"
"Superintendent of the Household to the Queen."
"Had you any knowledge of the plots of the court on the 10th August?'"
"I know not whether there were any plots on the 10th August; but I know that I had no knowledge of them."
"Swear to Liberty and Equality, and hatred of the King and Queen."
"Readily to the former; but I cannot to the latter: it is not in my heart."
[Reportedly, agents of her father-in-law whispered to her to swear the oath to save her life, upon which she added:]
"I have nothing more to say; it is indifferent to me if I die a little earlier or later; I have made the sacrifice of my life."
"Let Madame be set at liberty."

Much of the research of these dolls, which should be considered some of the most important ever made in doll history, was done by Francois Theimer, who, literally, wrote the book on French Court Dolls. This particular example was featured in his work in an entire chapter, laying out the Princess of Lamballe's unique place in French culture and as to the artistry and detail of the doll we see here.

Truly, a fantastic piece of cultural and artistic importance. An embodiment of my belief that stories are at the root of any object.