She rests her elbows on the marble and examines her face in the mirror. She pulls her hair back in a gold ribbon to work with an unobstructed palette. She generously applies blush to accentuate her cheekbones and contemplates lip shade before going with a classic red. She dabs a drop of perfume on each wrist and on her neck and places the glass bottle back on the cabinet. She opens each drawer and throws practically every article of clothing about the dressing room before settling on an understated gown with ermine trim. A perfect sight, she thinks.
Her guests are waiting in the parlor when she arrives; she greets each one with a curtsy and takes her place at the head of the table. Not moments after she begins sipping her tea, she hears a woman’s shriek from the dressing chamber.
“Marie!” The woman is appalled by the sight of the drawer’s contents thrown across the room and makeup strewn over her marble chest. She storms into the parlor and finds the girl, blush to her forehead, lipstick on her chin, but beautiful and innocent as ever in a dress six times to big, sharing tea with her dolls.
“Yes mother?” She says. “Do join us for a spot of tea, won’t you?”
Her guests are waiting in the parlor when she arrives; she greets each one with a curtsy and takes her place at the head of the table. Not moments after she begins sipping her tea, she hears a woman’s shriek from the dressing chamber.
“Marie!” The woman is appalled by the sight of the drawer’s contents thrown across the room and makeup strewn over her marble chest. She storms into the parlor and finds the girl, blush to her forehead, lipstick on her chin, but beautiful and innocent as ever in a dress six times to big, sharing tea with her dolls.
“Yes mother?” She says. “Do join us for a spot of tea, won’t you?”
France
c. 1830-40
Carved Walnut, Marble
47" wide x 24" deep x 38.5" high
$3200
