Monthly Archives: February 2021

‘Her Minajesty’ Nicki Minaj Barbie

Photographs courtesy of Stephen Sumner Name: ‘Her Minajesty,’ Nicki Minaj Barbie, a one-of-a-kind Made by and When: Mattel, designed by Stephen Sumner in 2011 Material: Vinyl Height: 11-1/2 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Pink straight hair with bangs/brown painted eyes/smiling mouth with painted teeth Designer’s Description: Created as a one-of-a-kind, the Nicki Minaj doll, ‘Her Minajesty,’ is wearingContinue reading “‘Her Minajesty’ Nicki Minaj Barbie”

Yara Shahidi Barbie

Name: Yara Shahidi Barbie Made by and When: Mattel, 2020 Material: Vinyl, Made to Move Petite body Height: 11-1/2 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black curly textured hair/brown painted eyes and eyelashes/smiling mouth with painted teeth Clothes: Yara Shahidi Barbie wears a gray tweed-ish pants suit, white tee with VOTE printed on the front, and white high-top sneakers.Continue reading “Yara Shahidi Barbie”

Venus and Serena Williams

Photographs courtesy of Telisa Spain and John (ebay seller oxy–moron) Name: American Champions Venus and Serena Williams Made by and When: Play Along, 2000 (released in 2001) Material: Vinyl Height: 11-1/2 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Rooted hair with multiple braids/painted brown eyes/smiling mouths with painted teeth Clothes: Venus: Tennis dress has white halter straps, a red bodiceContinue reading “Venus and Serena Williams”

George Washington Carver

Name: George Washington Carver Made by and When: Hallmark, 1979 Material: Stuffed cloth Marks: Body tag reads: Hallmark Cds., Inc. / K.D. Mn / Made in Taiwan / 400 DT 113-7 / George Washington Carver Doll / Toy; the reverse side reads, February, 1979. Height: 7-1/2 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Screen-printed hair and facial featuresContinue reading “George Washington Carver”

Johnna Art Dolls

Photograph courtesy of Anita M. Ormsby Name: Group of Johnna Art Dolls, Kalamazoo Made by and When: Barbara Thiery Buysse, various years Group Description: The one-of-a-kind dolls in this delightful group of Johnna Art Dolls by Barbara Buysse were made from 1985 to 1992. They are cloth with very expressive oil-painted facial features. Some areContinue reading “Johnna Art Dolls”

Leontyne Grace

Name: Leontyne Grace Made by and When: Frantz Brent-Harris of Sona Dolls (2018) Material: Resin Height: 12 inches, full figured Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black curly removable Afro wig/brown painted eyes/closed mouth Clothes: Wears a red and black houndstooth knit dress, belted at the waist with a black patent-leather belt, a gold tone and black beaded necklace, andContinue reading “Leontyne Grace”

She Wears it Well

Name: She Wears It Well Made by and When: Frantz Brent-Harris of Sona Dolls, 2017 Material: Resin and silk with a steel base Height: 3 feet Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Natural texture fibers create an upward Afro/brown painted eyes with applied eyelashes/closed mouth with luscious red-painted lips Clothes: Elaborate headdress of a red slave ship with red chainsContinue reading “She Wears it Well”

Ella Fitzgerald

Name: Ella Fitzgerald  Made by and When: Floyd Bell, 1999 Material:  Carved from basswood and jetulong, cloth body, wire armature, wooden stand Height:  18 inches tall Hair/Eyes/Mouth:  Black hair carved from a block of jetulong wood/carved facial features with brown eyes, a smiling mouth and painted teeth Clothing:  White brocade suit with full-length skirt embellishedContinue reading “Ella Fitzgerald”

Roberta, a Soft-Sculpture Art Doll

Photographs courtesy of Cat Runnels Name: Roberta from The Big Girls Valentine’s Day Shelf Sitters Series Made by and When: Patricia Coleman-Cobb, 2012 Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black yarn locs/closed eyes/parted lips with teeth Material: Clay (face) fabric (body), and yarn (hair) Marks: Signed by the artist Height: 13 inches from head to hips with legs that hangContinue reading “Roberta, a Soft-Sculpture Art Doll”