$5,000
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Description
18" (46 cm.) Paper mache shoulderhead depicting a solemn-faced child, heavily-lidded brown glass eyes, mohair lashes, outlined eyes, one-stroke brows, accented nostrils, closed mouth with prim lips, brunette hand-tied human hair wig over solid dome, kid gusset-jointed body, bisque forearms. Condition: very good/excellent, one thumb tip chipped, all-original as made. Marks: L.M. Comments: Leo Moss, this is one of three dolls made for the daughters of a Macon family for whom Leo Moss performed odd jobs. Learning of Moss's talent in doll making, the father commissioned Moss to create likeness dolls of his three daughters, Elaine, Mary, and Lilly, ages 9, 6, and 5 in 1909. And according to an original letter written by the middle daughter, Mary [Kane} in 1972, "Each of our dolls were of our own likeness...The wigs were made from our own hair. Mrs. Moss made the wigs and dressed them in clothes of exact copy she had made us girls for Christmas". The letter goes on to describe more details of Leo Moss dolls and the manner in which he worked to capture the likeness of each child. Value Points: very rare doll by Leo Moss, enhanced by its original wig and hair, and with documentation letter which is included with the doll. From the Myla Perkins collection, featured in museum exhibitions and in her book, Black Dolls (Collector Books, 1993), page 13.