Very Rare American Paper Mache Black Character Child Attributed to Leo Moss

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17" (43 cm.) Hand-pressed paper mache head with flanged neck,rich black complexion and hair,sculpted very tight short curly hair with details of curls tumbling onto the forehead,sculpted angled black brows,heavily lidded inset brown eyes with black eyeliner,broad rounded nose,closed mouth with full pouting downcast lips,very plump cheeks,three modelled tears on cheeks as though falling from eyes,brown muslin torso and upper legs,composition lower limbs,wearing white cotton dress,undergarments,shoes,stockings. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: 1901 LM. Comments: attributed to Leo Moss,circa 1901,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 left-over scraps of wall paper 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 sculpting and portraiture,enhanced by the mysterious background of the artist,superb state of preservation.