Name: Church Dolls
Made by and When: Debbie Behan Garrett, 2008-present
Material: Cloth, embroidery thread or yarn, glue, pipe cleaners, polyfil
Marks: Dolls #9 and higher are initialed, numbered, and dated by the artist
Height: Varies between 4 and 5 inches
Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Individually applied strands of embroidery thread or yarn, no facial features
Clothes: White cloth or felt skirt, white crocheted overskirt
Other: Church dolls date back to the U. S. Civil War era. During church services, a mother or grandmother used handkerchiefs to create dolls to keep fidgety children occupied. Small enough to fit in a pocket, they would not make noise if dropped during the service.
After discovering church dolls in approximately 2008, the curator searched for an African American version to add to her private collection. This search was futile. Therefore, she made herself one, which is illustrated in the first gallery photo. Her intention had been to make more dolls to sell. Instead, she gave a total of 14 away to special people first.
Garrett’s church dolls are all one-of-a-kind, entirely handmade, and fashioned for adult collectors. Because it is difficult to find women’s handkerchiefs, she uses other “soft” materials. The framed history of the church doll, a votive candle, and display instructions are included with each doll.
Gallery
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