Early American Figural Diorama

Description:

Early American Figural Diorama, made by Lucy Miller Lambert Cleveland, Salem, Massachusetts, c. 1840, the diorama with three handmade figures of an elderly lady, a gentleman, and a black maid, constructed of stuffed kid leather and cloth, with needle-sculpted and painted faces, and dressed in late 18th century costume, posed on a needlepoint rug and mounted in a small vitrine, (minor losses),vitrine ht. 15, wd. 14 dp. 12 1/2 in.

Note: An old auction description affixed to the back of the vitrine reads: "Lucy Hiller Lambert Cleveland (1780-1866),of Salem Massachusetts made "story" groupings and single figures as gifts and items for charity bazaars. Nine of her figural groupings are in the collection of the Essex Institute of Salem. A letter [written by her granddaughter] dated December 9, 1918, describing the grouping as well as a recollection of Mrs. Cleveland, accompanies the lot." It accompanies this lot as well.
Estimate $1,500-2,000

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