Important French Bisque Art Doll by Albert Marque in Original Margaine-Lacroix Costume
37 Watching
Live Auction
Onsite
Highest Bidder
$90,000
Sold
sold
Click image to enlarge
Estimate
$40,000 / $60,000
Description
22" (56 cm.) Bisque socket head with highly-artistic sculpting achieved by a unique four-part mold used only for this doll, prominent definition of facial planes, softly-rounded nose, heart-shaped face with elongated slender throat, blue glass paperweight eyes, thick dark eyeliner, painted dark curly lashes, feathered brows, accented eye corners, shaded nostrils, closed mouth with petulantly-shaped lips, well-modeled pierced ears, original brunette human hair hand-tied wig, 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, a barely perceptible line (likely original firing line) extends the vertical length of the throat. Marks: A. Marque (incised signature on doll) Margaine-Lacroix (cloth label on costume). Comments: France, circa 1916, the artistic doll was commissioned from and sculpted by the esteemed French sculptor, Albert Marque for 1916 exhibition presented by Parisian art patron, Margaine-Lacroix in her fashion boutique. The dolls were presented in costumes of one of three major themes, historical French costumes, French court persons, and Russian folklore, this being the latter theme. Value Points: the rare and important art doll, considered the apogee of the French doll Renaissance movement of the early 1900s, is wearing original folklore style costume with richly embroidered details and symbols bearing Margaine-Lacroix label, leather shoes with Alart symbol, and elaborate berry-trimmed coronet.
Stuart's Take
A "take a deep breath" moment as to dolls. Most Albert Marque models will bring well in excess of $100K. Deservedly so given the blend of artistic sculpt by the noted artist along with the fashion design of Margaine-Lacroix, a designer who, without question, influenced fashion still to this day. So, why the approachable estimate for this, even in a seldom found labeled Margaine-Lacroix costume? A small vertical line extends down the front line of the throat. Most likely it is original in the making. For that, a broader range of collectors who have dreamed of this doll are presented perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity to own what most over multiple generations of collecting consider is the greatest doll ever made.
I remember one collector who has a Marque commenting to me, "I never felt as if I owned it, I often just feel as if I was given the privilege of admiring it every day."
