Author Archives: DeeBeeGee

Mixis

Name: Mixis Made by and When: YNU Group, 2007 General Description: Representing individuals of mixed ancestry, the Mixis dolls are 12-inch fashion dolls made of vinyl by YNU Group of Toronto, Ontario. Opal is of Ghanaian and British descent. Rosa’s mom is Latina and her dad is Jewish. Emerald’s mix is Black American, Japanese, andContinue reading “Mixis”

Baby Georgia and Dreamkid Bear

Name: Baby Georgia and Dreamkid Bear Made by and When: Heidi Otti, 2000 Material: Vinyl head, arms, and legs; stuffed, pellet-weighted brown knit body. Marks: (Head) Signed and handwritten by the artist, Heidi Ott 2000 76/250 Incised in the head below the artist’s signature is Heidi Ott® Height: (Georgia) 29 inches; (Dreamkid Bear) 11 inchesContinue reading “Baby Georgia and Dreamkid Bear”

Angela by Cre8tiv Glory

Name: Angela Made by and When: Gloria Grandy of Cre8tiv Glory Designs, acquired in 2017 Material: Cloth Marks: Unmarked Height: 20 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Handmade Afro wig of synthetic fibers, hand-painted and needle-sculpted facial features with brown painted eyes, closed painted mouth Clothes: Dressed in faux fur zebra dress with black wet look belt,Continue reading “Angela by Cre8tiv Glory”

Ikoku Fertility Dolls

(Photographs and information are courtesy of a museum benefactor.) Name:  Ikoku Fertility Dolls (Ngide) from the Turkana people of Northwestern Kenya Made by and When:  Regional handicraft for the tourist trade in Kenya; date unknown Material:  Unjointed carved wood figures with leather and bead work Marks:  None Height:  17- and 14 inches, respectively Hair, Eyes,Continue reading “Ikoku Fertility Dolls”

African Man

Name: African Man Made by and When: Possibly German, late-1800s to early-1900s Material: Form of papier-mâché or plaster composition, jointed at shoulders and hips Marks: None Height: 9 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: The hair is Astrakhan or mohair with a curly nap; brown eyes and mouth are painted. Clothes: Original fur strip around the hips;Continue reading “African Man”

Haitian or Jamaican Souvenir Dolls

(Photos and information are courtesy of a museum benefactor.) Name:  Caribbean Dolls of Haitian or Jamaican Origin Made by and When:  Exact source unknown, but handmade for the Caribbean tourist trade, likely between the world wars Material:  Wood Marks:  None Height:  9 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth:  While there are no wigs, the three women haveContinue reading “Haitian or Jamaican Souvenir Dolls”

Roddy Fashion Dolls

Name: Two Roddy Fashion Dolls Made by and When: Roddy, 1960s Material: Soft and rigid vinyl (face and arms are soft; body is rigid). Marks: Roddy (on the back of the head) Height: 24 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Black bubble cut hair, amber sleep eyes with upper eyelashes attached to eyelids, closed mouth Clothes: DollContinue reading “Roddy Fashion Dolls”

Bessie

Name: Bessie Made by and When: Sebino, 1977 (possibly released in 1978; the brochure has a copyright year of 1978). Material: Vinyl Marks: (Head) SEBINO ©77 / MADE IN ITALY (Upper Back) “Sebino Logo” / SEBINO Height: 11-1/2 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Black rooted hair styled in a bubble cut, brown painted eyes, closed mouthContinue reading “Bessie”

Papier-Mâché Doll “Marietta”

Name: “Marietta” Made by and When: Marietta Myers, 1989 Material: Papier-mâché head, shoulder plate, lower arms, and legs from the knees to the feet; stuffed brown cloth body, upper arms, and upper legs. Marks: Signed, Marietta/Myers/89 (on head) Height: 21 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Sculpted painted black cornrows/painted brown eyes/open mouth with six separate upper teeth Clothes:Continue reading “Papier-Mâché Doll “Marietta””