For sale is a very special one of a kind historical Queen Marie Antoinette doll handmade by Mary Branca. The doll is signed on the bottom of the doll stand by the artist. "Doll artist Mary Branca produced historical dolls in the 1940's. Each doll is a one-of-a-kind and features a fired clay composition head, hands, and feet. A collection of her dolls are featured in the Douglas County Historical Society Museum in Superior, Wisconsin. The museum's curator explains, 'Mary was born in 1893 to John and Caroline Branca. She was raised in Superior, WI., which is the government seat of Douglas County. Her parents were from Milan, Italy and owned a confectionery shop on the main street of Superior. Sometime in the 1920's Mary moved to Chicago to study at the Art Institute and later became a designer in a millinery firm. It was in her spare time that she made these dolls from her own formula, which she never divulged. She made their wigs, shoes, jewelry and costumes. When she finished a doll she sent it home to Superior, where her father built two beautiful cases for them. Mary had planned to create a doll museum in Chicago, but never did. Here sister, Annette donated the dolls to us when Mary died in 1975. Mary was buried in Chicago.'" {From blog by Mary Harrsch} The details of this doll are really spectacular, from her perfect clay ringlets to her magnificent gray and pink ruffled gown. It is hard to know the exact age of this doll. Given the material aging, she was most likely made in the 1950's. There is some light staining on the front of the gown. But despite that, the rest of the doll remains without tears, chips, etc. Please see all of the photographs as they are the final disclosure of condition.