Name: Early 1900s Cloth Doll in Bandana Clothing
Made by and When: Circa 1910-1920
Material: Cloth, cotton stuffing, thread
Marks: None
Height: 17 inches
Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Strands of black horse hair peek from underneath a cloth headwrap. The facial features are embroidered, as illustrated.
Description: This 17-inch tall, circa 1910-1920 black cloth doll has embroidered facial features and wears its all-original dress and headwrap made of bandanas, which may have been hand-blocked and printed. A slightly discolored apron is worn over the dress. The right hand holds a purse made from the same bandana material as the dress. The purse is gathered at the top.
Other: Acquired in a doll auction of over 400 black cloth dolls formerly owned by Pat Hatch, a renowned doll collector and dealer based in Harvard, Massachusetts, this lovely doll is now part of the Sharon Harbin Collection.
Gallery (Photos and description courtesy of Sharon Harbin)
About Pat Hatch: A well-known doll dealer in Harvard, Massachusetts, Pat Hatch has specialized in antique cloth dolls for over 40 years. Her particular focus has been 19th- and early 20th-century black cloth dolls, as well as country folk art and Shaker antiques. Her shop, Country and Shaker Antiques, has been a notable destination for collectors interested in these unique pieces.
Hatch has expressed a deep interest in the cultural and historical significance of black dolls, noting their connections to African American history and the Underground Railroad. She has also curated exhibitions, such as the 2007 showcase at the Harvard Historical Society, to share the stories behind these dolls.
In April 2025, Hatch’s extensive doll collection was auctioned by John McInnis Auctioneers. The sale featured over 400 dolls, many of which were meticulously cataloged by Hatch herself. The auction garnered significant attention, with the doll collection alone contributing $148,800 to the total sales. One highlight was an 18-inch Black boy doll that sold for $9,920.
Reference Links:
Antiques and the Hearts – Black Boy Doll
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