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Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Highest auction price for a doll-world record
set by Marque
ATLANTA, GA, USA -- A rare French doll made in
Paris in 1915, designed by French artist Albert Marque, was
sold at at Theriault's
auction for $263,000-setting the new world record for the
Highest
auction price for a doll.
Photo: A rare French doll, circa 1914,
by sculptor Albert Marque establishes a new
world record price of $263,000.00 at Theriault's auction
(enlarge
photo)
At the huge international event held in
Atlanta, Theriault's,
the 40-year firm based in Annapolis, MD, offered over 1000
pieces amidst frantic bidding and numerous additional records.
But, it was the doll by Albert Marque, dressed
in its period clothing to honor the Ballets Russes of Paris,
first introduced to international acclaim in 1909, which stole
the show as bidders drove the price amidst gasps and cheers
from the thousands of global attendees.
The doll was designed by French artist Albert
Marque, and is known in doll collecting circles simply as
Marque. Only 100 examples of the doll were made, and each
was costumed to particular specifications, representing persons
of the Eighteenth Century French court or in traditional Russian
folklore costumes.
These were also the prevailing themes of
the Ballets Russes of the era, and it is believed that Marque
was influenced by, if not closely collaborating with, that
group.
The Marque doll sold at Theriault's
auction, #21 of the series, was identified on his foot as
"Danseur Russe #2," and costumed in Eighteenth Century style
in silks and velvet. Offered from the private collection of
Eredi Di Adriana Bracco of Milan, Italy, the doll sold for
$263,000, setting the new world
record for the Highest auction price for a doll.
Bidding between two private collectors from Boston
and California was sustained, pausing at times, then quickly
moving forward again until it was finally won by the floor
bidder to the applause of the hundreds of attendees at the
sale.
"In every collecting category there is that one
piece, that one thing that every great collector dreams of
owning," said Stuart Holbrook, president of Theriault's,
the largest auction house in the world dealing exclusively
in antique dolls.
"For doll collectors, the Marque is the pinnacle.
It has the allure, the value and the beauty that is very compelling.
It's one of the most incredible creations ever made."
Holbrook said there are only 20 to 30 known Marque
dolls still in existence, many of them in museums.
The new world record for the Highest
auction price for a doll shattered the previous record
for a similar model sold in 2003 for $215,000.00.
Founded in 1970, Theriault's
is the largest auction house in the world dealing exclusively
in antique dolls, toys, and teddy bears. Conducting
over 30 live auctions annually in 20 U.S. cities they cater
to an international clientele of collectors for what is considered
to be one of the top 5 most popular collectibles categories.
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Museum-world record set by the Edgar's Closet Museum
Wednesday,
August 12, 2009
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