#87

Very Rare French Wooden Court Doll Representing King Louis XVI
Live Auction

Ended
$15,000
sold
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Description
16" (41 cm.) One-piece carved wooden head and male-sexed torso, carved hair with deeply-combmarked striations from the center-part, rolled curls at the sides, and a short queue at the nape tied with a black bow, carved ears, eye sockets, aqualine nose and lips with defined teeth between, painted blue eyes, brown brows, cloth upper arms, carved wooden hands and lower legs, painted black shoes with red buckles, wearing early costume comprising green velvet pants, embroidered silk vest, lace jabot, dark green velvet jacket with bead buttons and silk cuffs; silk label of "Alice Courtoism 47 rue Pierre Charron, Paris" is sewn to inside of jacket. Condition: very good, original painted finish with nicely age-rubbed patina, costume has some frailty. Comments: from the series of Royal Court Dolls, late 17th century, this example representing King Louis XVI, the dolls purposed to portray various intrigues of the royal court. Secreted for many decades, the dolls were brought to public attention at an Exposition at the Musee des Arts Decoratif in Paris in 1909, and later in research article by John Darcy Noble, and most importantly in the 2006 book, Les Poupees Royales de la Cour de Louis XVI by Francois Theimer, in which this particular doll is featured on pages 53 and 60. Value Points: very rare doll is well-preserved condition, with historical intrigue.