Jamaica Souvenir Dolls

Posted byDeeBeeGeePosted invintage black dollsTags:, , ,

Name: 1940s-1950s Jamaica Souvenir Dolls

Made by and When: Handmade by Jamaican women, circa 1940s-1960s

Material: Mixed media of cloth, woven baskets, raffia, crepe paper, and firm (possibly straw) stuffing

Marks: “Miss Jamaica” or “Miss Jamaica, WI” is handwritten on two aprons.

Height: From the top of the women’s baskets to their feet they are 9-1/2, 11, 12, and 14 inches tall. The man in the first group photo is 14 inches from the top of his straw hat to his feet. In the final group photo, the trio of dolls (one man and two women) are each 12 inches tall.

Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Glued to the women’s headscarves are baskets of fruit and vegetable-shaped crepe-paper balls. The facial features are crudely hand-painted. The men’s bald heads are covered with a straw hat.

Clothes: All handmade, mixed multicolored cotton fabric dresses, undergarments, white or light-colored aprons with “Miss Jamaica” or Miss Jamaica, WI handwritten on two aprons, and gold-tone hoop earrings sewn to the headscarves of three of the six women.  Baskets of “fruit” are attached to the headscarves. In addition to “fruit,” dyed raffia is in some baskets. One man wears a floral-print shirt and tan pants. The other man in the last group photo wears a plaid shirt and red pants. Both men wear straw hats.

Other: Made by Jamaican women, these handmade cloth dolls generated income from Jamaican tourists during the 1940s-1960s. The well-endowed women represent Jamaican women who sold fruit and vegetables in marketplaces and tourist areas of Jamaica or other Caribbean Islands.

Gallery

9-1/2-inch Miss Jamaica
Circa 1940s-1950s souvenir dolls from Jamaica
ca. late-1940s 11- and 12-inch Miss Jamaica dolls
14-inch man and woman Jamaica souvenir dolls, donated by Diane L. Young
Circa 1940s souvenir dolls made in Jamaica. #Jamaicasouvenirdolls #blackclothdolls
The women carry fruit or vegetables made of crepe paper in their head baskets. Raffia and paper fruit are in one basket.
Jamaica souvenir dolls ca. 1940s-1950s
The head baskets and contents are shown from another angle.
Three additional ca. 1960s Jamaica/Caribbean Island souvenir dolls include one man and two women.

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Published by DeeBeeGee

Doll collector, historian, co-founder of the first e-zine devoted to collecting black dolls; author of black-doll reference books, doll blogs, and doll magazine articles.

2 thoughts on “Jamaica Souvenir Dolls”

  2. The museum does not provide doll valuations. Try searching eBay for “Jamaica souvenir doll” and filter to view only completed/sold auctions. Use the sold dolls price range to determine what to ask for your doll.

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