HELP IDENTIFY a black clay signed bust of a woman

HELLO EVERY ONE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS...this one is a real challenge....the clay is black as seen on the base...the face looks like a fabric was pressed in to give it a texture..sides and back are smoothed out..bottom is signed with 3 marks..the clay almost has the smoothness of native american or south american..i bought it years ago at an antique show..i was told the artist was important and was given some info but that paper work was destroyed in hurricane sandy..very unusual piece...thanks for your help...andy