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)”
Category Archives: modern black dolls
18-Inch Dolls by Alexander Dolls
Name: 18-inch Dolls by Alexander Dolls Made by and When: 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, and 2019 Material: Vinyl heads, upper torsos, arms, and legs. The rest of the body is cloth. Marks on Each: Mia Bella—(Head) Alexander Doll Company/©2004; Alexander Doll Company (on body tag) [a copyright year of 2007 was on the doll’sContinue reading “18-Inch Dolls by Alexander Dolls”
Baby Brother Tender Love
Name: Baby Brother Tender Love Made by and When: Mattel, 1975 Material: Soft vinyl Marks: ©1972 MATTEL, INC. (on the head); ©1975 MATTEL INC. USA (on upper back) Height: 13 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Rooted wavy brown hair, painted brown eyes, open mouth with a visible drinking tube Clothes: White, aqua, and yellow striped knitContinue reading “Baby Brother Tender Love”
Li’l David and Li’l Ruthie 1st Anatomically-Correct Dolls
Name: New Arrival Li’l David and Li’l Ruthie Made by and When: Sculpted by Irene Szor for Horsman, 1975 Material: Vinyl heads, stuffed vinyl one-piece bodies Marks: 1/Horsman Dolls, Inc/19©75 (Lil’l David); 1/Horsman Dolls, Inc/19©75 (Li’l Ruthie) Height: 13-1/2 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Painted brown hair, painted brown eyes, drinker mouths Clothes: Li’l David wearsContinue reading “Li’l David and Li’l Ruthie 1st Anatomically-Correct Dolls”
The One and Only Talking Doll Zamika Martin
Name: The One and Only Adoptable Talking Doll Zamika Martin Made by and When: Zambardon, 1988 Material: Vinyl head, arms, and legs; dark brown cloth body with voice box Marks: ©1988 MARTIN/ZAMBARDON CORP Height: 19 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Black rooted hair styled in three sectioned-off double-strand twists, sculpted and painted black eyes, closed mouthContinue reading “The One and Only Talking Doll Zamika Martin”
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”
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”
