Author Archives: DeeBeeGee

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.

Muhammad Ali “I Am the Greatest”

Name: Muhammad Ali “I Am the Greatest” Made by and When: Effanbee, 1986 Material: All vinyl Marks: Effanbee / 1986 / M. ALI (on the head) Height: 18 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Molded black hair/painted brown eyes/closed mouth Clothes: Wears a replica of Ali’s Everlast white satin, red-trimmed boxing trunks with matching robe; wears molded-on boxing glovesContinue reading “Muhammad Ali “I Am the Greatest””

Ruby Bridges

Photograph courtesy of Rachel McCullough Sherrod of Starkey’s Daughter Cloth Dolls Name: Ruby Bridges (a one-of-a-kind doll) Made by and When: Starkey’s Daughter Cloth Dolls, January 2020 Material: The face, arms and legs are made of a wool blend felt. The head and torso are a cotton blend. Marks: Signed and dated by the artist,Continue reading “Ruby Bridges”

Linda Brown

Photograph courtesy of Starkey’s Daughter Cloth Dolls Name: Linda Brown (a one-of-a-kind) doll Made by and When: Starkey’s Daughter Cloth Dolls, January 2019 Material: The face, arms and legs are made of a wool blend felt. The head and torso are a cotton blend. Marks: Signed by the artist, Rachel McCullough Sherrod of Starkey’s DaughterContinue reading “Linda Brown”