Description
This doll is a form of vintage Black Americana folk art, often produced in the early-to-mid 20th century. These dolls were frequently designed to be decorative or functional (such as being used as a tea cozy, toaster cover, or doorstop) rather than for play.
This particular one is 6″ tall and 7″ wide at her arms. The dress flows out at least 20″. It is made with a cream and black heart pattern on the dress, an adorable apron, and hoop earrings.
Since I had never seen one like this, I looked it up and found this information:
Key characteristics include
- No Legs/Cardboard Base: The doll is likely a “half-doll” or “bottle doll” type, where the upper body is cloth and the lower body is a solid form designed to be sturdy, as noted in listings for handmade “mammy” dolls with wooden bases.
- The “Mammy” Caricature:Â These figures typically represent the “Mammy” stereotype, featuring a dark-skinned cloth face, often with red lips and bandana head covering, designed to represent a 19th-century domestic worker.
- Variations: Similar items found in collections include “Mammy Broom Dolls” (where the wooden handle serves as the structure) or “Mammy Bottle Dolls” (which are weighted with a bottle and covered in fabric)
These items are highly contentious, representing racist stereotypes from American history, but are often preserved as historical artifacts or in Black Americana collecting circles.
I am listing a few other black dolls so check them out to save on shipping.
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