Maquette Definitions:

Oxford English Dictionary: "maquette" mæ'kεt

From French maquette artist's preliminary sketch or model (1752) < Italian macchietta sketch, outline (18th cent.; 1598 in sense speck, little spot) < macchia spot (12th cent.; < classical Latin macula MACULA).

1. Art. A small preliminary sketch, or wax or clay model, from which a work (usually in sculpture) is elaborated.

2. In extended use: a small-scale model or template for something.
1994 New Scientist 4 June 15/3 Dutton and colleagues see their maquette as a model for enzymes such as haemoglobin peroxidase and especially cyctochromes.

As applied to synthetic proteins:

Purely synthetic peptide structures tailored at the molecular level to accomplish as wide a variety of chemical, mechanical and electrical functions as displayed by natural proteins, but with a simplicity and robustness uncharacteristic of living matter.