Landmark, The Margaret Lumia Collection
Only rarely do collections appear with such significance that they can rightfully be labeled legendary or lodestar. Or “Landmark”. Which is the auction title of the collection of Margaret Lumia. Chosen with a discerning eye, acquired with a dogged persistence, and nurtured carefully during their time in her care, her dolls offer today’s collectors a rare opportunity to see – and, perhaps win – a magnificent treasure from time past. The collection ranges from fine early wood and paper mache to superb French bébés and poupées, to the rarest of the German bisque art characters, mostly all in original costumes. There are dollhouses, early doll furniture, and more. Softbound. 10" x 10". 204 pages.
$79.00
Catalog Lot List details
18" (46 cm.) Bisque shoulderhead with perfectly-oval face, defined throat hollow and shoulder clefts, brilliant cobalt blue glass eyes in deeply-set sockets, dark eyeliner, painted lashes, brushstroked brows, closed mouth with accented lips, delicate rose blushing, unpierced ears, brunette human hair over cork pate with rare wax coating, kid-stretched-over-wooden poupee body with shapely torso, kid-over-wooden upper arms, thighs and upper calves with dowel jointing, bisque arms to above the elbows with cupped hands, bisque lower legs with bare feet. Condition: generally excellent, body especially sturdy. Comments: French, circa 1867, the poupee was likely created to present at the important Paris International Exposition of that year. Value Points: the extraordinary beauty of the poupee with notable definition of features is enhanced further by very rare early body in pristine condition, and wearing lovely antique gown, undergarments, leather shoes, coronet and coral necklace.
Presale Estimate:
6000/8500
Realized Price:
$13,500
17" (43 cm.) Bisque head with flat-cut neck with swivel attachment to matching shoulderplate, oval-shaped face with high domed forehead, painted blue eyes in deeply set sockets, dark upper eyeliner, grey eyeshadow around the eye, arched brows, aquiline nose with accented nostrils, closed mouth with impressed lip corners, shaded ears, blonde mohair curly wig on cork pate, stretched-kid over wooden body with dowel-jointing at shoulders, elbows, hips and knees, bisque hands with artfully sculpted cupping, wearing antique gentleman's woolen costume with shirt, tie, woven undergarments, black socks, leather shoes, and beaver opera top hat. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: French, circa 1867, from an exceptionally rare series of dolls likely created for the Paris 1867 International Exposition; only six other examples of this model are known including an example costumed as the Princess de Lamballe, sold by Theriault's in the 1996 auction A Fully Perfected Grace. Value Points: outstanding quality of modeling and bisque on this extremely rare model, wooden body with bisque hands.
Presale Estimate:
8000/12,000
Realized Price:
$30,000
20" (51 cm.) Bisque socket head, very deep blue glass paperweight inset eyes, thick dark eyeliner and lushly-painted lashes, mauve-blushed eyeshadow, brushstroked brows, accented eye corners, shaded nostrils, closed mouth with shaded and outlined lips, pierced ears, blonde mohair curly periwig over cork pate, French composition and wooden fully-jointed body with tiny waist and accentuated derriere, straight wrists. Condition: generally excellent, original body and body finish. Marks: Depose Tete Jumeau Bte SGDG 9 (head) Jumeau Medaille d'Or Paris (body). Comments: Emile Jumeau, circa 1885. Value Points: very fine bisque and complexion, original wig, rare body style that is designed to enhance the snugly-fitted antique silk faille Marquis costume with elaborate embroidery, lace jabot, and leather shoes signed Jumeau Med'Or Paris.
Presale Estimate:
3500/4500
Realized Price:
$4,000
10" (25 cm.) A bisque head child doll with sculpted blonde hair, blue glass eyes, dark eyeliner, blushed cheeks, closed mouth, firm carton torso and legs, wire upper arms, metal hands, is standing upon a tinplate base with three spoked wheels. When wound, the base moves forward and in circles in a merry manner. Condition: generally excellent, mechanism functions well. Comments: Vichy, circa 1865. Value Points: charming early mechanical toy with rare sculpted hair, wearing original silk costume in the court manner, with flower-bedecked coiffe.
Presale Estimate:
2500/3500
Realized Price:
$4,500
8" (20 cm.) 7"d. x 11"l. Of beautifully grained woods in artfully-arranged marquetry, the desk has a scalloped rim with bronze edging, two drawers, cabriole legs, and is richly ornamented with bronze drawer pulls and figural head mounts on the legs. Excellent condition. French, circa 1865, of the luxury archetypal of the fine Parisian store Maison Giroux.
Presale Estimate:
1200/1600
Realized Price:
$4,250
17" (43 cm.) Bisque socket head, dark blue glass sleep eyes which operate from a lever at back of head, painted lashes, thickly brushstroked brows with feathered detail, rose-blushed eyeshadow, accented eye corners and nostrils, slightly parted outlined lips, two rows of tiny porcelain teeth, pierced ears, brunette mohair wig, French composition fully jointed body. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: J. Steiner Bte SGDG Paris Fre B 11 (head) (original Steiner label on torso and signed J. Steiner eyes). Comments: Jules Steiner, circa 1885. Value Points: most endearing boy with beautiful decoration of eyes, wire lever eye movements, original signed body, wonderful antique teal blue silk costume with elaborate metallic trim, antique boots, carrying brass bugle. Ex-Lucy Morgan Collection.
Presale Estimate:
4000/5500
Realized Price:
$4,500
18" (46 cm.) Bisque shoulderhead with very plump face and defined double chin, textured complexion, cobalt blue glass inset eyes with heavily-modeled eyelids, delicately-painted lashes and brows, accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth modeled as though open with parted lips revealing two rows of tiny sculpted teeth, unpierced ears, blonde mohair wig over cork pate, plump kid poupee body with gusset jointing at hips and knees, bisque arms to above the elbows, lovely antique dress, undergarments, woven bonnet with arrangements of flowers, stockings, ivory satin shoes marked C.C. Condition: generally excellent, few original kiln specks on face. Comments: French, circa 1860, the maker of this very rare early period poupee is indefinite; a near duplicate model with painted eyes was featured on the cover of Doll News in Spring 1997 and also on the cover of Lady Dolls of the 19th Century by Florence Theriault, with possible attributions to Adelaide Huret or Georges Most who registered a French design in 1860 for sculpted teeth in dolls (see Encyclopedia of French Dolls by Theimer, page 419). Value Points: extremely rare doll with exceptional sculpting around the eyes, exquisitely-detailed teeth, rare early body with bisque arms, lovely original costume.
Presale Estimate:
11,000/16,000
Realized Price:
$9,500
2" (5 cm.) inside head width. Of very fine woven tulle with two woven wire frames that are covered with wrapped silk and ruffled lace, the bonnet is resting in a wooden box with blue brocade, the box having a center medallion courtly image. Excellent condition. Circa 1865.
Presale Estimate:
300/500
Realized Price:
$850
16" (41 cm.) Hand-pressed bisque swivel head with plump facial modeling on kid-edged bisque shoulder plate, painted blue eyes with sculpting detail of eye sockets and rich decorative glaze on the lower eyes, heavily modeled eyelids with black eye-liner, delicately painted lashes, feathered brows, accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth, accented lips, unpierced ears, blonde mohair wig over cork pate, original gutta percha poupee body based upon the Huret depose with jointing at hips, knees, shoulders and elbows. Condition: generally excellent, some typical restoration of body. Marks: Medaille d'Argent Huret 22 Boulevard Montmartre Paris Exposition Univers. 1867 (torso stamp). Comments: Adelaide Huret, circa 1865. Value Points: a fabulous example of the signature French doll, having desirable traits of swivel head, uniquely painted eyes, unique deposed Huret body in superb original condition, wearing antique costume of her era, including cream leather slippers (unsigned) in the Huret manner.
Presale Estimate:
19,000/24,000
Realized Price:
$19,000
10" (25 cm.) The three-shelved etagere is fashioned of elegantly-grained tulipwood borders enclosing center panels of elaborate marquetry which is repeated on the single drawer front, with cast bronzed legs having mask figurals at each corner and hoof feet. The drawer opens to reveal a cast brass plate with the incised inscription "Huret". Excellent condition. French, circa 1860, the prestige firm of Maison Huret specialized in creating elegant "real people" furnishings in the 18th century court manner; for a very few years, after Adelaide Huret presented her luxury poupee, the firm presented the same furnishings in a size for display with that doll; no other example of this superb masterpiece is known to exist.
Presale Estimate:
4500/6500
Realized Price:
$19,000