DeeBeeGee

My Twinn Dolls

Name: My Twinn Made by and When: My Twinn, copyright 1994-2003 Material: Vinyl heads, lower arms and legs from the knees down, and vinyl feet; stuffed cloth bodies with armature for posing and jointed ankles Marks: Note that some of the heads have a copyright year, but the body tag (if present) is a betterContinue reading “My Twinn Dolls”

Baby Catch-A-Ball

Name: Baby Catch-A-Ball Made by and When: Topper Toys, 1969 Material: Rigid vinyl Marks: Deluxe Topper 1968 (on the head) Height: 18 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Black short curly rooted hair, brown stationary eyes with upper eyelashes, sly smile with tongue stuck out to the side of the mouth Clothes: Pastel colored striped dress isContinue reading “Baby Catch-A-Ball”

Remco’s Brown Eye Dolls and Sweet April

Name: Brown Eye Dolls and Sweet April by Remco Made by and When: 1968, 1969, and 1972 Material: Vinyl and rigid plastic Head Marks and Height: Hair, Eyes, Mouths, and Function(s): Clothes: Other: Although Remco did not make Black dolls exclusively, the company recognized the need for Black dolls for Black children. In the lateContinue reading “Remco’s Brown Eye Dolls and Sweet April”

Giggles by Ideal

Name: Giggles Made by and When: Ideal Toy Corporation, 1968 Material: Rigid vinyl Marks: (Head) 1966 Ideal Toy Corp. GG-18-H-77, (buttocks) 1967 Ideal Toy Corp. GG-18 Height: 18 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Brown rooted hair, brown flirty eyes that move from side to side with the “giggles” activation, open smiling mouth with painted upper teethContinue reading “Giggles by Ideal”

Portraits of Caleb and Logan

Name: Portraits of Caleb and Logan Made by and When: Ping Lau, 2008 Material: Resin heads, shoulder plates, arms, and legs; stuffed brown cloth bodies Marks: Hand-signed on the backs: Ping Lau/2008/Portrait of Caleb (and) Ping Lau/2008/Portrait of Logan Height: 13 and 10 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Yarn clippings for the hair (auburn yarn forContinue reading “Portraits of Caleb and Logan”

Joffee Diva Anita Gold

Name: Anita Gold Made by and When: Joy Griffis of Joffee Diva Dolls, 2020 Material: Polymer clay face and hands, stuffed cloth body Marks: None Height: 10 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Synthetic dark brown hair with auburn highlights, painted brown eyes, closed mouth with painted red lips Clothes: Sewn-on burgundy and pink catsuit is embellishedContinue reading “Joffee Diva Anita Gold”

Amanda

Photographs courtesy of Rachel McCullough Sherrod of Starkey’s Daughter Cloth Dolls Name: Amanda Made by and When: Rachel McCullough Sherrod of Starkey’s Daughter Cloth Dolls, 2021 Material: Wool-blend felt face over sculpted polymer clay, stuffed wool-blend felt arms and legs, and stuffed cotton-blend material (for the head and torso) Marks: Signed by the artist, RachelContinue reading “Amanda”

African Festival Figures (Paper Dolls)

Name: Festival Figures: Children from Around the World in Their Colorful Holiday Dress, African Set: (1st picture) Ethiopia, Lesotho, Zambia, Senegal; (2nd picture) Liberia, Tanzania, Ghana, Madagascar Made by and When: United States Committee for Unicef in cooperation with the George S. Carrington Company, 1978 Material: Paper Marks: Unmarked Height: Figures, approximately 14 inches; envelope,Continue reading “African Festival Figures (Paper Dolls)”

Sister and Brother by Patti Hale

Photographs courtesy of Anita M. Ormsby Name: Sister and Brother by Patti Hale Made by and When: Patti Hale, 1985 Material: Wood, stuffed doe suede bodies Marks: The girl’s neck is marked: Patti Hale/NIADA/85. The boy’s neck is also marked Patti Hale/NIADA. The year below NIADA on the boy’s neck is difficult to read; itContinue reading “Sister and Brother by Patti Hale”

Wooden Girl by Patti Hale

Name: Wooden Girl by Patti Hale Made by and When: Patti Hale, 1976 Material: Wood Marks: (Head) 123BBG-76/Patti Hale (the artist’s signature is inscribed in the wood). Height: 14 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Black curly wig, brown carved eyes, open smiling mouth with two upper and two lower teeth and a carved tongue Clothes: RedContinue reading “Wooden Girl by Patti Hale”