$17,000
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sold
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Description
24" (61 cm.) Hand-pressed paper mache socket head, rich dark brown complexion, sculpted very tightly curled hair, sculpted angled black brows, heavily lidded inset brown downcast eyes with black eyeliner, three modeled tears, little pointy nose, closed mouth with full lips in pouting downcast pose, very plump lower cheeks, black composition and wooden ball-jointed body, antique costume. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: (illegible markings). Comments: attributed to Leo Moss, circa 1900, according to oral legend, the itinerant black carpenter of Georgia is believed to have created a small number of one-of-a-kind dolls depicting children of his small town world; his materials were those found at hand, for example the leftover scraps of wallpaper from his day job. The tearful-faced children were signature to his style, and each was created uniquely. Value Points: rare American doll with outstanding artistry, enhanced by the intriguing background of the artist, in fine superb state of preservation.