Rare French Pine "Marotte" Milliner's Head, probably from the Queyras region in the French Alps, first half 19th century, carved with prominent eyes and knotted bun fitted with a period hand-stitched pique cotton bonnet, h. 12-1/2", w. 7-3/4", d. 9". Provenance: Private collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Literature: Margaret Hofer and Roberta Olson. Making It Modern: The Folk Art Collection of Elie and Viola Nadelman. (New York: New-York Historical Society, 2015), pp. 140-141. The rustic quality of this naively-carved head bespeaks of its folkloric utility. As the expression in French denotes, "marotte porte-coiffe" (dummy head for wigs), these objects were designed to hold the shape of ordinary women's bonnets and hats in the 18th/19th centuries. Though there are many extant models, notably the papier-mache ones milliner's used to display their wares, this type is distinctive to the high French Alps region of Queyras. These marottes are ensconced in superstition; they served as guardians, who looked over the bonnets and the domicile of their wearers and makers, hence the frozen wide-eyed stares and pursed lips. The primitive angular carving of the head and facial features also reflects regional carpentry. The soft Alpine pine was first planed, then the design or decoration was traced on the object before it was whittled with a short knife. Queyras is part of the oldest mountain range in France and was not opened to public tourism until the end of the 20th century. As such, its customs and dress have remained largely intact for the past three centuries. The region is known for its production of fine linen, most notably its lace, which is produced from the raw materials of wool, linen, hemp and cotton on a 15th-century-style small circular loom called a "tambour". The carved embroidery on the marotte's blouse and knotted bun fit with a finely stitched cotton bonnet are strikingly similar in design and fashion to the traditional vestments of Queyras. The scalloped pattern was commonly used on the "gounelloun", a long knee-length chemise made of linen or hemp that was worn like a night shirt under a long black dress of wool (gounelle), and the down-turned angular sides of the bonnet and high gathered topknot are distinctive to the bonnet called "coiffe a gauto"; the slanted sides afforded protection to the ears from the mountain winds, while the height helped retain heat. In a photo taken of a town hall meeting in Queyras, ca. 1980, that was published in the Cahiers du Queyras (2007), several of the women are wearing nearly identical block stitched cotton bonnets (coton en pique) to the one presented here. There are a handful of these fine marotte specimens conserved in prominent collections like the "Folk Arts" one of Elie and Viola Nadelman (purchased by the New York Historical Society in 1931), or in "The Objects of Daily Life in the Alps", in the Dauphinois Museum in Grenoble, but they are rare. It is even rarer to find Queyras marottes for sale, as they seldom come to auction, and when they do, it is almost exclusively in France and they sell for between two and ten times their estimate. It is almost unprecedented to find one of this caliber with a period bonnet. References: "Le Costume de la Femme du Queyras." Costume Traditionnel: Autres Regions de France - La Malle aux Tressors. Oct. 13, 2011. www. labastdo.canalblog.com. Accessed Feb.1, 2016; Dentelles du Queyras et des Vallees Voisines (Cahiers du Queyras), ed. Claire de Goaziou. Editions du Queyras, 2007; "Patrimonie Populaire." Art Aujourd' hui 215 (May 5-11, 2011). www.artajourdhui.info. accessed Feb. 4, 2016.

No visible losses or repairs. There are some open shrinkage cracks to the sides and bun as to be expected with age and use. There is also some dryness to the wood underneath the bonnet due to years of wear. In overall good condition and structurally sound. As for the bonnet, there are a few small scattered tears to the back edge and inside lining, as well as light separation to the back seam edges. Light abrading to fabric edges, staining and fading appear throughout the bonnet. Condition is consistent with age and utilitarian use.