Rare and Important American Cloth "Columbian Doll" by Emma Adams

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21" (53 cm.) All-cloth doll with oil-painted face and forehead curls, flat-dimensional face with shaded complexion, outlined blue eyes with defined pupils and white eye dots, short-stroke brows, outlined nose, painted mouth with shaded and outlined lips, brown scallop-edged curly bangs, muslin stitch-shaped body with oil-painted lower arms and legs, nice antique costume is likely original. Condition: generally excellent, original finish with few typical rubs. Marks: (faint traces of maker stamp). Comments: Emma Adams of upstate New York, whose doll was entered into competition at the important 1893 Columbian International Exposition in where it was the first American doll to be awarded the Gold Medal at any international exposition, an honor previously bestowed mostly on French doll firms such as Jumeau; hence, its name of Columbian Doll. Value Points: a pivotal doll in American doll history, that is happily enhanced by its great appeal and fine artistry of painting.