Ernesto Troili Large Bust Of A Young Girl Wearing A Bonnet – Sèvres Blue Biscuit Porcelain

A large, elegant antique bust in biscuit porcelain depicting a smiling young girl wearing a lace bonnet; the work is signed E. Troili on the right shoulder.

The piece stands out for the tenderness of its expression and the quality of the facial detailing. The young girl is depicted turned slightly, with a lively gaze and lips curving into a smile. The sculptor pays particular attention to the rendering of the features: the delicate modeling of the cheeks, the finesse of the nose and chin, and the precise rendering of the eyelids and eyes.

The contrast between the very smooth skin of the face and the much more textured rendering of the headdress is one of the sculpture’s most compelling features. The bonnet, which flares widely around the head, features remarkable decoration imitating lace and embroidery, achieved through meticulous work on the porcelain. At the back, the folds of the fabric, the bow, and the long trailing edges of the cap are entirely sculpted.

The costume is also rendered with great care: a draped bodice, soft folds, an apron or shawl gathered across the chest, and decorative details in slight relief.

The bust rests on a substantial pedestal made of deep blue glazed porcelain, accented with gold fillets, in the style of Sèvres blue. The square base and pedestal lend the piece a striking decorative presence and highlight the matte whiteness of the bisque.

An incised signature “E. Troili” is visible on the shoulder.

A very beautiful decorative piece evoking the grand busts of young women and young peasant girls produced in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, at the crossroads of academic sculpture, naturalism, and the decorative sculpture of the Belle Époque.

Artist: Ernesto Troili
Signature: E. Troili, incised on the right shoulder
Subject: Portrait of a young girl wearing a lace bonnet
Technique: Biscuit porcelain
Base: Deep blue glazed porcelain with gold fillets, in the style of Sèvres blue
Period: Late 19th – early 20th century
Overall dimensions: 51 × 28 × 21 cm
Height: 51 cm / 20.08 in
Width: 28 cm / 11.02 in
Depth: 21 cm / 8.27 in

Condition: Good overall condition. Some signs of wear consistent with its age. The mechanism securing the bust to its pedestal is visible beneath the base. Please refer carefully to the numerous photographs, which are an integral part of the description.