Author Archives: DeeBeeGee

George Washington Carver

Name: George Washington Carver Made by and When: Hallmark, 1979 Material: Stuffed cloth Marks: Body tag reads: Hallmark Cds., Inc. / K.D. Mn / Made in Taiwan / 400 DT 113-7 / George Washington Carver Doll / Toy; the reverse side reads, February, 1979. Height: 7-1/2 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Screen-printed hair and facial featuresContinue reading “George Washington Carver”

Johnna Art Dolls

Photograph courtesy of Anita M. Ormsby Name: Group of Johnna Art Dolls, Kalamazoo Made by and When: Barbara Thiery Buysse, various years Group Description: The one-of-a-kind dolls in this delightful group of Johnna Art Dolls by Barbara Buysse were made from 1985 to 1992. They are cloth with very expressive oil-painted facial features. Some areContinue reading “Johnna Art Dolls”

Leontyne Grace

Name: Leontyne Grace Made by and When: Frantz Brent-Harris of Sona Dolls (2018) Material: Resin Height: 12 inches, full figured Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black curly removable Afro wig/brown painted eyes/closed mouth Clothes: Wears a red and black houndstooth knit dress, belted at the waist with a black patent-leather belt, a gold tone and black beaded necklace, andContinue reading “Leontyne Grace”

She Wears it Well

Name: She Wears It Well Made by and When: Frantz Brent-Harris of Sona Dolls, 2017 Material: Resin and silk with a steel base Height: 3 feet Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Natural texture fibers create an upward Afro/brown painted eyes with applied eyelashes/closed mouth with luscious red-painted lips Clothes: Elaborate headdress of a red slave ship with red chainsContinue reading “She Wears it Well”

Ella Fitzgerald

Name: Ella Fitzgerald  Made by and When: Floyd Bell, 1999 Material:  Carved from basswood and jetulong, cloth body, wire armature, wooden stand Height:  18 inches tall Hair/Eyes/Mouth:  Black hair carved from a block of jetulong wood/carved facial features with brown eyes, a smiling mouth and painted teeth Clothing:  White brocade suit with full-length skirt embellishedContinue reading “Ella Fitzgerald”

Roberta, a Soft-Sculpture Art Doll

Photographs courtesy of Cat Runnels Name: Roberta from The Big Girls Valentine’s Day Shelf Sitters Series Made by and When: Patricia Coleman-Cobb, 2012 Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black yarn locs/closed eyes/parted lips with teeth Material: Clay (face) fabric (body), and yarn (hair) Marks: Signed by the artist Height: 13 inches from head to hips with legs that hangContinue reading “Roberta, a Soft-Sculpture Art Doll”

The Michelle Obama Dress-up Doll

Name: The Michelle Obama Dress-up Doll Made by and When: Danbury Mint, 2009 Material: Vinyl, string jointed, with 12 points of articulation Marks: D / M ©MBI (the D is over the M with a line drawn between the D and the M) Height: 16 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Removable center-parted black bob wig that attaches toContinue reading “The Michelle Obama Dress-up Doll”

Nelson R. Mandela

Name: Nelson R. Mandela Talking Action Figure Made by and When: Time Capsule Toys® 2005   Material:  Vinyl and rigid plastic Height:  12 inches with extra articulation Hair/Eyes/Mouth:  Sculpted gray hair/painted blue eyes/smiling, open mouth with painted teeth Clothing:  Blue three-piece suit, white shirt, blue tie, black socks and shoes; (white boxer shorts have the SouthContinue reading “Nelson R. Mandela”

Black Dolls Journey Through Time With Denise Bond

This is a still shot from the video: Black Dolls a Journey Through Time exhibit that was held in September 2018.