Category Archives: modern black dolls

Diana Ross (Three Versions)

Name: Diana Ross Made by and When: Mego (1977), Ideal (1969), Mattel (2003) Material: Vinyl and rigid plastic Marks: (Mego) MOTOWN RECORD / CORPORATION (on head); MEGO CORP. 1975 / Made in Hong Kong on body. (Ideal)1968 Ideal Toy Corp DR-18-H148 (head); 1969 Ideal Toy Corp GH-18 US Pat. #3,162,976 (on buttocks) Height: 12-1/4, 18,Continue reading “Diana Ross (Three Versions)”

Grown Up Tammy

Name: Grown Up Tammy Made by and When: Ideal Toys, 1965 Material: Vinyl Marks: 1965 / Ideal / 7-12 (on right hip) Height: 12 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Brown rooted hair/brown side-glancing eyes/painted red lips Clothes: White-trimmed turquoise romper, white vinyl shoes Other: Ideal created this slender Tammy that could wear some of Barbie’s clothes. The originalContinue reading “Grown Up Tammy”

Swim Set Baby Zuri

Photographs courtesy of Karen Kilburn Name: BabyZuri Made by and When: Shindana Toys/1975 Material: Soft vinyl Marks: SHINDANA TOYS 1972 / DIV.OPERATION BOOTSTRAP INC. Height: 13 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Brown sculpted curls/black painted eyes with brown irises/drink and wet mouth with painted lips Clothes: Two-piece swim suit and overskirt, bare feet Other: Includes an inflatable swan;Continue reading “Swim Set Baby Zuri”

Baby Zuri

Photographs courtesy of Karen Kilburn Name: Baby Zuri Made by and When: Shindana Toys/1972 Material: Soft vinyl (light, medium, and dark vinyl versions were made; a white Baby Zuri was also made). Marks: SHINDANA TOYS 1972/DIV.OPERATION BOOTSTRAP INC. Height: 13 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black or brown Sculpted curls/black painted eyes with brown irises/drink and wet mouthContinue reading “Baby Zuri”

Slade Super Agent

Name: Slade Super Agent Made by and When: Shindana Toys, 1975 Material: Vinyl Marks: Shindana Toys / ©1975 Height: 9-1/2 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Sculpted Afro/brown painted eyes/closed mouth with mustache Clothes: Orange shirt, brown faux leather short jacket, brown faux leather pants, black boots Other: Attaché case (black vinyl bag) contains a cardboard box that illustratesContinue reading “Slade Super Agent”

Career Girl Wanda

Shindana’s Career Girl Wanda dolls are 9 inches, all vinyl, and represent women of different professions and sports players to inspire young girls to imagine themselves in these careers. #Shindanadolls #careerdolls #fashiondoll #blackfashiondoll #operationbootstrap

Baby Nancy

Photographs courtesy of Karen Kilburn Name: Baby Nancy Made by and When: Shindana Toys/1968 Material: Vinyl Marks: DIV OF/OPERATION BOOTSTRAP, INC. U.S.A. / ©1968 SHINDANA (on head) Height: 13 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black rooted hair/brown painted eyes/drink and wet mouth with painted pink lips Clothes: Dressed in a variety of brightly colored dresses and panties, bareContinue reading “Baby Nancy”

Leo Moss-Type Dolls

Name: Leo Moss-type dolls Made by and When: Betty Formaz, ca. 1984 Material: Porcelain heads and hands; brown knit stuffed bodies, arms, and legs Marks: None Height: 15 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouths: Sculpted curls, brown stationary eyes with teardrops on cheeks, parted lips with molded tongues Clothes: Dressed in matching red velour clothing original toContinue reading “Leo Moss-Type Dolls”

Russian Nesting Dolls

Name: Authentic 5-piece Russian Nesting Dolls Made by and When: Svetlana Lukina, 2019 Material: Wood Marks: Svetlana Lukina 2019 (handwritten on the lower back base of the tallest doll) Height: The tallest is 7 inches; the smallest is 2 inches. Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Hand-painted facial features, clothing, and scenes on the back Clothes: Hand painted Victorian-era clothingContinue reading “Russian Nesting Dolls”

Black Artist Dolls Video Presentation

In July 2019, doll enthusiast, Deborah Butler Johnson, conducted a comprehensive live presentation on Black artist dolls at the 2019 United Federation of Doll Clubs Convention. The live presentation was recorded. It was so well received that the video was aired during the 2020 Virtual UFDC convention held in July 2020. Click or tap theContinue reading “Black Artist Dolls Video Presentation”