American Wooden Folk Doll with Captivating Simplicity

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24" (61 cm.) All wooden doll with simply-carved one-piece round head and torso, thick throat and sloping shoulders, painted black hair with feathering details, very simply painting of facial features, blue eyes, arched brows, triangular shaped carved nose, tiny closed mouth lips, cloth upper arms, carved wooden lower arms with cupped hands, spindly wooden legs with loosely-jointed hips and knees, large narrow feet with painted shoe straps. Condition: very good, finish is original with pleasing age patina, according to museum notes the wooden arms are replaced. Comments: maker unknown, likely American folk art, early 1800s. Value Points: wearing original gown with embroidered edging, drawstring purse, ruffled bonnet. The doll is shown in the book The Heart of the Tree by Rosalie Whyel and Jill Gorman, pages 102-103. Included is early wooden chair on which the doll is seated.