Author Archives: DeeBeeGee

Two Baby Grumpy Dolls

Doll 1 Name: Baby Grumpy (the doll on the left) Made by and When: Effanbee, circa 1922 Material: Composition head and shoulder plate, composition arms and legs, and brown cloth body Marks: Effanbee Dolls Walk*Talk*Sleep (on shoulder plate) Height: 12 Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black sculpted hair/brown side-glancing eyes/closed, downturned mouth with painted red lips Clothes: Pink organzaContinue reading “Two Baby Grumpy Dolls”

Snowball, a.k.a. Black Grumpy

Name: Snowball, a.k.a. Black Grumpy Made by and When: Effanbee, 1913 Material: Composition head, hands, and forearms; straw-stuffed cloth body, upper arms, and legs; legs covered with red, white, and blue striped fabric Marks: None Height: 12 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Sculpted hair with raised curls on forehead and sides of head/brown painted side-glancing eyes/closed mouth Clothes:Continue reading “Snowball, a.k.a. Black Grumpy”

Amosandra/Patsy Baby

Name: Amosandra/Patsy Baby Made by and When: Effanbee, 1949 (possibly first introduced as Patsy Baby in 1936) Material: Composition Marks: EFFANBEE / Patsy Baby (nape of neck and mid-back) Height: 9-1/2 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Sculpted black hair with three tufts/painted black side-glancing eyes/closed red lips Clothes: Floral-print dress, matching panties, red ribbons in hair; has gold-toneContinue reading “Amosandra/Patsy Baby”

Amosandra by Sun Rubber

Amosandra was an advertising and play doll named after the baby born to Amos and Ruby on the Amos ‘n’ Andy Show radio broadcast episode, “Amosandra is Born.” #Amosandra #Ruthenewton #sunrubberdoll #Amosnandyshow

Tiny Tears Lookalike

Name: Tiny Tears Lookalike from England Made by and When: Unknown maker, 1950s Material: Hard plastic Marks: Unmarked Height: 12 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black Astrakhan wig/amber sleep eyes/closed mouth Clothes: Redressed in pink knit dress, bonnet, and pants with enclosed feet _________ Your comments are valued. Donations aid the initiative to preserve Black-doll history.  If you subscribeContinue reading “Tiny Tears Lookalike”

Martha Chase Stockinette Boy

Name: Martha Chase Boy Made by and When: Martha Chase, circa 1940s-1950s Material: Stockinette (stuffed vinyl material for the body arms and legs; the head uses stockinette over a mold). Marks: None; these dolls had paper labels on their bodies which usually fall off. Height: 14 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Painted black hair/painted brown eyes/closed mouth Clothes:Continue reading “Martha Chase Stockinette Boy”

Walking African Girl

Name: Walking African Girl Made by and When: Pedigree, 1950s Material: Hard plastic Marks: Pedigree (on the neck) Height: 16 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black astrakhan wig/brown flirty eyes/red painted lips with two inserted upper teeth Clothes: Period-appropriate red circle-print dress, red Cinderella-marked sandals, gold-tone hoop earrings Other: During the 1950s and prior, Pedigree used very deepContinue reading “Walking African Girl”

African Baby

Name: African Baby Made by and When: Pedigree, 1950s Material: Hard plastic (cellulose acetate) Marks: Pedigree (on the neck) Height: 16 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black astrakhan wig/brown eyes/red painted open lips with two inserted upper teeth Clothes: Redressed as shown, has original gold-tone hoop earrings Other: The doll’s flirty eyes are now stationary. During the 1950sContinue reading “African Baby”