Exceptional Early Wax Doll Vignette "The Cheating Card Players"

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18" (46 cm.) x 11" case. 7" dolls. An amusing vignette depicts four wax dolls with original painted features seated around a pedestal game table on which are laying several playing cards. The players (three women and one man, each wearing original (frail) 17th century costumes are holding further cards, and two of the players are holding their cards in such a way as to encourage cheating, hence the long time name given to the scene. The scene is preserved in an early wooden case with gold leaf finish and blown glass sides. The costumes are frail and darkened, but intact and overall good condition. A placard found inside the cabinet indicates the vignette was displayed at the historic retrospective 1935 Exposition de la Poupee in Strasbourg in 1935 and was from the private collection of Henri d'Allemangne.