Little dancer

The sculpture of the girl shocked critics and onlookers when first exhibited in Paris in 1881.  Her fragile form protected in a glass case, some deemed her “a medical specimen.”  Others compared her to a monkey.

But the young dancer’s pose told a much different story.  Head back and chin thrust out, her body holding strong despite countless hours of demanding training, her inner fire should have humbled everyone… 

But like so many other displays of genius, Degas’ Little Dancer was dismissed by the establishment and overlooked by the average viewer.

Marie van Goethem longed to become “the most famous dancer in the world.”  But she was not a pretty girl.  Born to a tailor and a washerwoman, Marie only knew the hardscrabble life of poverty… until she began modeling for one Edgar Degas in the halls of the Paris Opera to pay for her ballet lessons.

Marie posed for Degas at age 14, but dropped out of dancing school at age 17.  It is not known what became of her.  Nonetheless, she got her wish.  In Little Dancer, Marie’s bright spirit lives forever, charming generation after generation of art lovers the world over.

The Little Dancer is one of the most precious treasures of the art world.  Cast in bronze, only a few copies of Degas’ original were ever made.  In November 1996, Sotheby’s New York auctioned one replica for a record price of  $10.8 million.

Yes, you read that correctly! The Little Dancer is a replica.  And almost all of her admirers must travel to New York, London or Paris to visit with her in person.  But if you act quickly, you can be one of the lucky few who will enjoy her company at home, each and every day. 

Museum Replicas creates indistinguishable replicas of Degas’ Little Dancer, using the same ancient process as the original casts.  But we won’t make them forever.  We’re proud to offer you Little Dancer as a Museum Replicas Limited Edition.

Perhaps you have a child in your midst that would benefit from young Marie’s courage and pride. “The Little Dancer” is an inspiration to young and old alike

Like all of our replicas, we faithfully reproduce each masterpiece using the exact same materials and methods as the original.  And all are in the public domain, so they’re perfectly legal.

You can order any of our most popular replicas right from our website, but for more personalized service, give us a call!  We’re happy to discuss your project in depth, and there’s no obligation whatsoever.  Just call 866-472-4090 or 517 347-7983, or email info@museum-replicas.com to set up a convenient time to talk.

If you’ve got your heart set on Little Dancer, please don’t put it off.  Our version is the highest quality you’ll find anywhere, but just a few will be made.  Even if you’re still in the “thinking about it” stage, it’s best to call us right now and reserve your spot.

PS: Did you know that the Little Dancer exhibited by Degas in Paris was cast in wax, not bronze?  The Little Dancer we know and love was cast well after Degas’ death using the “lost wax method,” a process of nearly 20 steps that dates back over 6,000 years.  It’s the method we still use today when we make our Little Dancer replicas.