$30,000
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sold
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Description
22" (56 cm.) Black-complexioned paper mache shoulderhead depicting a tearful-eyed young child, sculpted tightly-curled black hair, heavy-lidded brown glass inset eyes with all-around shaded eyeliner, two sculpted tears, sculpted black angled brows with furrowed detail, tiny rounded upturned nose, closed mouth with downcast pouting lips, brown muslin body with composition lower arms and legs, antique cream woolen baby gown and embroidered coat. Condition: generally excellent, finish on hands is worn. Marks: Mina (incised on front shoulderplate) 1903 L.M. (back shoulderplate). Comments: Leo Moss, early 1900s, "Mina" was the first Leo Moss doll to be exhibited nationally, winning a blue ribbon award at the UFDC convention in 1973. Value Points: extraordinary artistry of the folk doll with superb details of sculpting and painting, highlighted by sculpted tears. From the Myla Perkins collection, featured in museum exhibitions and in her book, Black Dolls (Collector Books, 1993), page 16.