Author Archives: DeeBeeGee

Harriet Tubman by Bertabel’s Dolls

Name: Harriet Tubman Made by and When: Bertabel’s Dolls (I. Roberta Bell), 1969 Material: Clay head and hands, stuffed tan silk body, arms, and legs Marks: Bertabel Dolls is on the outside of the hangtag Height: 16 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Salt and pepper hair, brown painted eyes, closed mouth with deep burgundy painted lipsContinue reading “Harriet Tubman by Bertabel’s Dolls”

Character Dolls by Rosa Wilder Blackman

(Except for the additional 2nd or 3rd generation dolls, Photographs courtesy of B. W. Flowers) Name: Folk Art Character Dolls by Rosa Wilder Blackman Made by and When: Rosa Wilder Blackman, 1941 to approximately 1951 Material: 1st Generation dolls have molded clay heads, hands and shoes; padded cloth bodies over a wire armature. Cloth wasContinue reading “Character Dolls by Rosa Wilder Blackman”

Understanding African American History Through the Eyes of Dolls

Name: Understanding African American History Through the Eyes of Dolls – A Communicator for the Past and Present Description: Sneha Sureshkumar was a 10th grader at the time she conducted extensive research for the documentary “Understanding African American History Through the Eyes of Dolls.” Her research and the resulting documentary were part of her state’sContinue reading “Understanding African American History Through the Eyes of Dolls”

The Essence of Lady Sigma

Name: The Essence of Lady Sigma Made by and When: Trinity Designs, Inc., circa 2011 Material: Jointed vinyl Marks: ©2010 TRINITY DESIGNS INC Height: 16 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Black synthetic wig pulled back into a low ponytail with a silver crystal-encrusted ponytail holder, painted black pupils with gray irises, closed mouth with glossy dustyContinue reading “The Essence of Lady Sigma”

Special Appearance Violet Waters

Name: Special Appearance Violet Waters Made by and When: Mel Odom for Ashton Drake Galleries (designed by José D’Saenz) Material: Vinyl with articulated elbows and knees Marks: Violet Waters™/©2001 Mel Odom/by Ashton-Drake Galleries Height: 15-1/2 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Dark brown hair styled in a double victory roll and accented with a white orchid onContinue reading “Special Appearance Violet Waters”

Ella Fitzgerald Barbie Diorama

Name: Ella Fitzgerald Diorama Made by and When: Laila Johnson, 2021 Description: Laila Johnson collects Barbies and creates dioramas for them. She began making doll dioramas because she wants her dolls to have their own space to reflect their personality. Johnson built and designed this diorama especially for the Ella Fitzgerald Barbie. She made theContinue reading “Ella Fitzgerald Barbie Diorama”

Queen of Hearts, Alice in Wonderland, and the White Rabbit

Queen of Hearts, Alice in Wonderland, and the White Rabbit, an ultra-limited-edition boxed doll set presented at the Maryland Society of Doll Collectors’ 2020 “Wonderland” luncheon. #aliceinwonderland #blackporcelaindoll #limitededitiondolls #artistdolls #goldiewilsondolls #marylandsocietyofdoll collectors #souvenirdoll #luncheondoll

Smiling Beautiful Debbie

Name: Smiling Beautiful Debbie Made by and When: Woelfert-Puppen, 2013 Material: Vinyl, jointed at the head, shoulders, hips, legs, and knees Height: 33-1/2 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Black handmade wavy mid-back-length human hair wig with a side part, brown hand-blown glass eyes from Lauscha (a town in the district of Sonneberg, in Thuringia, Germany), openContinue reading “Smiling Beautiful Debbie”

Carolyn

Name: Carolyn Made by and When: Carolynne White, 1998 Material: Paper clay (head and shoulder plate), cloth body, arms, and legs with wired armature in the arms; pulpboard and wire for the doll stand Marks: Carolyn/©1994/1998/Caron Enterprises Height: 37 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Synthetic handmade wig has multiple braids, brown painted eyes, closed mouth Clothes/Accessories:Continue reading “Carolyn”