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RARE 1925 MISS AMERICA BY HOWARD CHANDLER CHRISTY

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Sgned on the base Howard Chandler Christy with copyright symbol and the date 1925. This rare figure, and presumably others like it, was either the lightning rod for a major scandal in 1925, or a treasured award. Former Miss America Pageant judge and well-known illustrator Howard Chandler Christy (1873-1952) sculpted the smiling nude beauty and unveiled it in 1925. It was titled "Miss America 1925" and, by some accounts, was based on the artist's personal knowledge of the physique of that year's pageant winner, Miss Fay Lanphier. Christy later stated that she never posed for him but it seems there was outrage nonetheless. Meanwhile, another story claims that Christy was commissioned by pageant officials to undertake a sculpture to be awarded Oscar-style at the pageant. This he titled, 'Miss America'. The former account is much juicer, but either way this piece is quite rare. The figure is of bronze wrap over composition and measures 14.5 inches high. The condition is very good, with a few minor wrinkled areas that are common to the process.

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