Rare and Very Fine American Black Cloth Character Doll by Martha Chase

Live Auction

26" (66 cm.) Stockinette cloth head with pressed and oil-painted rich brown complexion and facial features, painted dark brown eyes with two white eye dots in each eye, black upper eyeliner, black painted brows, broad nose, full lips of closed mouth, very plump cheeks and chin, stitch-shaped ears, black fleecy hair, brown cotton sateen torso, brown oil-painted hands and bare feet, antique costume. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Chase Doll (original paper label on back torso). Comments: Martha Chase, circa 1895. Value Points: one of the rarest models by that firm, in exceptional size suggesting its possible origin as an exhibition doll, and having distinctive artistic facial modeling and painting, and preserved in near mint condition.