Not all black dolls have black bodies. Some of the best dolls I have had were dolls that the maker took an old rag doll and gave the doll a black head. In the Jim Crow era, it became common in the north for mothers to teach their children about the plight of African Americans, by making a black doll for them. So mothers even ones that were not really skilled at sewing were making black dolls. Putting a black covering over a rag doll was one of the easiest ways...
This lovely black cloth doll is all original. Her face is embroidered, her clothing is early bandanas that are very lovely, I think they may be hand blocked and printed. She has black horsehair peeking out from under her head wrap. In her right hand she is holding, a gathered at the top, purse She is most unusual and very beautiful. She is 17" tall and is circa 1910-20.
This sweet little black doll has the look of a 24" doll. She is old, her clothes are early, soft and hang nicely. Her leather shoes are original and it is always a mystery of how they get so worn. She has raised eyes and mouth done with layers of yarn. She has a cotton stuffed curvy little body that sits easily. Her yellow dress is a little fragile and the kerchief around her shoulders is old but not as old as she is. She is 13" tall and C. 1890
This doll has an oil painted face on fine linen cloth. Her face is lovely but her eyes are just looking over my head. I think she is lost in thought. Her body is shapely and she is stuffed firmly. Her arms and legs and jointed and she is all handsewn. She has mitten hands with lots of wear and black stockings with leather shoes that look original to her. She has on a petticoat and a brown checked dress that is early but not original...
Such a sweet heart with a very dainty stitched face in red and yellow thread. For such an early face it is a surprise to see that there is another one under this face. I would never remove it but it for some reason got recovered. Reminds me of a Christmas morning when I got just what I wanted, a Little LULU doll and was so thrilled. I was 8 years old, put her in my bicycle basket and rode my bike to show my best friend up the street...
This plain and simple stocking doll with great old button eyes and probably original stocking cap. He feels like he is stuffed with soft stocking material. He has fancy blue and maroon yarn tied around his ankles that probably matched his clothes. Simplistic pleasure. He is 14 tall and has a few small holes. He is circa 1910-20
There are so many ways that women thought up on how to make a doll and give them the loveable look. This black cloth doll has that as well as a great folky look. She is stuffed with cotton and wool. She is bendable, the wool areas, and firm in the chest and head, the cotton areas. She has a simple face and it is framed by a crocheted bonnet with neck ruffle so I know it was made just for her. She has on a simple blue calico dress with a wool petticoat and bloomers underneath...
This is a really nice straight forward hand sewn flannel doll, with a very nice embroidered face. Her body is stuffed and I mean stuffed with rags and she is really solid. She bends at her ankles and that is it. I tend to think that she is from Pennsylvania because of the type of flannel she is made with. It makes me think of the Amish flannel toy dogs. She is all original, the dress if it is not original once it got put in it stayed on...
This most unusual black doll is built around a strong wireframe that is bendable to any position you want. She has a fine embroidered face, pinched nose and astrakhan hair. She is wearing age-appropriate clothes are really wonderful. She is in very good condition, is all hand sewn. These one of a kind black dolls are tokens of love, made for a child to play with.
She is 15" tall and is circa 1890
This fine antique cloth doll all hand-sewn with a delicately embroidered face, pinched nose, and rosy cheeks have an air of sophistication. She has on a two-piece soft blue-green wool dress, faded some in the front, with antique petticoat and pantaloons, sock, and leather shoes.
Her hair is a black silk fabric with some shredding and a bun at the back of her neck. She is constructed with very fine linen and is stuffed quite firmly with raw wool. This is a very special doll. 21" and C. 1880
A very interesting folk art doll with a big lollipop head, with a whimsical look on her sepia ink face. She has long neck, small solid body, short rounded off arms and turned feet. She is wearing a blue calico dress, with a nice undergarments. She is cotton stuffed. Her head leans back and forth a little but is not floppy, a surprise seeing it is so big. Her arms and legs are jointed. Her body is all original although the bottom half might be recovered or just how she was made...
Antique cloth doll with a bold painted face, black eyes and eyebrows, worried black eyes, red rosy cheeks and staight serious mouth. Her body is curvy and cotton stuffed with arms and legs that are jointed so she sits easily. The dress is a calico print with little heart and flower design in a deep pink and brown colors. Over the dress is a blue check apron and blue checked bonnet on her head. She has mitten hands with stitch defined fingers. Her clothes are all antique...
This antique handsewn doll has the early sloped shoulders, with carefully pieced construction, finely embroidered face with pinched raised nose, detailed lips, eyes and eyebrows. Her body is the hourglass shape, her legs are continuous and even though she is not jointed, she sits easily. She has great astrakhan hair. She is cotton stuffed rather firmly, has sewn on socks and rounded off hands. She is wearing a skirt and blouse, petticoat and bloomers all antique but not original, just nice. The ...
This is a doll with a water colorpainted face on very fine linen. This is her second face and if you look at her arms that are really worn she has had a full and busy life. I wouldn't want to take this face off, it is so nice with its little worried expression. (The second face is very old not just done.) Her body is all original, she came with a blouse and petticoat and I added the brown wool skirt. She is jointed at the shoulders, hips and knees. She is firmly stuffed with cotton. 19" and C. 1...
This doll is has a very nice painted face with contrast that is white, but I think the color might have been pink and faded. She has it on her cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. She has a pretty red mouth and dark blue eyes. She has real hair sewn to her head. She has on a full length camisole and a dress with bonnet to match. Her body is very heavy and stuffed or packed with sand. I have only had dolls with sand a few times. She has leather hands and long narrow feet. She probably has another fac...
Lovely old cloth doll stuffed with rags, really solid and heavy in possibly an original dress. She is completely jointed, nicely constructed, old petticoat and pantaloons. She has dainty pointed feet, stitched defined thumb and fingers and the back of her head is covered with brown fabric that also looks original. Her face is embroiderer nicely with brown floss and you can tell she was made by a happy person. 23" tall and C.1890
What a great example of a folky big heavy homemade dog. His face is priceless, shoe button eyes sort of hanging there, a leather nose that dominates the lower half and no suggestion of a mouth. Somehow they eye doesn't notice that it is not there. He is made with a heavy wool twill that was mohair at one time. He has round wooden legs that have broken through the fabric at the top so now and then a little excelsior falls out. His ears are original but they look like he had a fight with a cat, ...
This very nice hand-carved wooden doll and some original paint on the face and shoulders. She has a very round head, deep-set eyes and a nose carved and protruding but still out of the one piece of wood. Her legs were inset and pegged in place. Now she is a wonderful fragment 10" tall and mounted on a professional frame. (There are a few very old worm holes, please see close-up picture.) Circa 1800-1830.