American Folk Art Oil-Painted Doll with Painted Blue Hair Bow

Live Auction

28" (71 cm.) All-cloth homespun doll with stitched-on shoulder head with flat-dimensional face and rounded back of head having center back seam, oil-painted hair and face, large blue painted blue eyes with pronounced white eye dots, outlined brows, eye sockets, nostrils and even the philtrum, defined nostrils, closed mouth with center accent line, shaded blonde short curly hair with painted blue hair band and bow, cloth body with stitch jointing at shoulders, elbows, hips and knees, oil-painted lower arms with stitch-defined fingers and separate thumbs, antique dress, undergarments, stockings and leather shoes. Condition: generally excellent, some typical rubs on face. Comments: American, circa 1890. A curious pencil inscription on the left leg reads "Origina [sic] "Raggdy [sic] Ann Culpitts NB family" suggesting the doll was given that designation by a later owner of the doll. Value Points: the naive painting is harmoniously enhanced by fine sense of artistry on this wonderful early portrait painting in doll form and intriguing family notation.