Name: 1920s Painted-Face Black Cloth Doll in a Calico Dress
Made by and When: Unknown, circa 1920s
Material: Cloth, cotton stuffing, thread, paint
Marks: Unmarked
Height: 15 inches
Hair, Eyes, Mouth: The head is covered with a red bandana. The facial features are hand-painted as illustrated.
Description: A circa 1920s all-original black cloth doll wears a blue calico dress, white apron, and red bandana headwrap. It originates from a cottage industry in Georgia. The nicely painted face was done by a naive hand, but the colors and style are very nice. A tag on the inside dress hem reads, “Mammy 4,” which is possibly an auctioneer’s label. This firmly stuffed doll has some age discoloration and a tiny hole on the chin. Otherwise, the condition is very good, and it appears never played with.
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 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
_________
Your comments are valued. Donations support the initiative to preserve black-doll history.
If you subscribe to DeeBeeGee’s Virtual Black Doll Museum™ by email, click the post title of the email, which links to the website to view all text and associated media. Please “like” and share this installation with your social media contacts. If you’d like to subscribe, add your email address to the subscribe or sign-up field in the footer or right sidebar. Add your email address to the subscribe or sign-up field in the footer or right sidebar.
DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum™ 