In 1915 Margaine-Lacroix conceived in her shop the project of an exhibition of dolls for which she will realize the costumes. The realistic and expressive bébé's heads are commissioned to Albert Marque, a sculptor specializing in children's busts. The bisque is made at Sèvres.
Marque executed about one hundred pieces that are the masterpieces of the French doll. The variety of clothes for girls and boys, provincial or exotic, royal or peasant, demonstrate the passion of Margaine-Lacroix for the history of costume. Unfortunately she did not appreciate the tremendous cultural quality of her project. After closing out the exhibition, she offered the dolls for sale with a limited success, and the whole set will never be reassembled.
On July 12, 2009, a boy wearing a costume of the Ballets Russes was sold for $ 263K including premium by Theriault's.
On January 10 in Newport Beach CA, the same auction house sells Lorraine, number 94 in the series signed by Albert Marque. Inspired by Louise de Lorraine who was the last queen of France of the Valois dynasty, her sumptuous costume belongs to both categories of regionalism and royals.
This doll 56 cm high is estimated $ 160K, lot 17 in the catalog of Theriault's also shared on the bidding platform Proxibid. It is the second of two dolls discussed by Florence Theriault on the video shared on YouTube by the auction house: