Vintage, Black Doll, EXTREMLY RARE..1870-1890 ??? Must read description

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Vintage, Black Doll, EXTREMLY RARE..1870-1890 ??? Must read description:
$150.00

Beautiful Black-Cloth Dolls “Black Dolls” – two words that encapsulate many physical representations and emotional connotations. There are cloth dolls that are respectful in nature and there are dolls that are caricatures which exist in the collecting marketplace. There are truly old dolls and modern reproduction folk art dolls made in tribute to the true old rag dolls and caricature styles. I am going to share what I know about the dolls made by women for children, both black and white. It is not my place to say where these cloth dolls belong in African-American history. What I want to do is start a conversation about how and why these dolls exist and the fact that the majority of truly old dolls were made for children out of a love that transcended racial lines. The love and craftsmanship in these dolls is clearly demonstrated by how these simple dolls have held up over time. The makers of these pieces of art deserve credit for their work and the heart they put into making these items. I do not feel that these attributes should be overlooked due to the racial connotations some might attribute to “black dolls.” The cloth dolls of yesterday are not the status symbols of today’s modern dolls. They were made in the day when black women were nannies for children, and the children wanted representations of their caretakers. The dolls were made to be held as comfort in fear, absorb tears and to be used as items of joy for playing, just as any other rag doll. They reflect the moods of their times, as all dolls do. Modern black dolls directly reflect the intelligent, fashionable and successful African-American women who collect them. There are several ways physically to tell the difference between old and new dolls. According to historian Roben Campbell, who has done extensive research in dating old black cloth dolls, they can be divided into three periods: The Earliest are the Finest (1870-1890), Everyday Calico and Shoe Button (1890-1910) and The Last Stand: The Bottle Dolls (1910-1930). Some of Campbell’s informative research may be found in the catalog and articles on her website: www.blackclothdolls - DOT com. Campbell’s extensive research, which has included the collection of Pat Hatch, indicates that the 1870-1890 cotton dolls are finely crafted and dressed in rich fabrics, such as wool, linen and velvet. Frequently, the dolls feel firm and have well-made bodies, molded heads and extremities. They often have inset eyes and attached mouths, ears and noses, along with embroidered features. The doll’s hair is commonly made of sewn-on horsehair or fur wigs. A center seam is sometimes present on the front of the face. The Everyday Calico and Shoe button period from 1890-1910 is characterized by less expensive materials, including the use of black sateen. Faces were embroidered with neutral expressions featuring straight mouths, and shoe buttons came into use for eyes. According to Campbell, old black cloth doll faces were actually redone to reflect the current mood of the time. The neutral mouth enabled a child to interact with the dolls without any predetermined emotion present on the doll. Bottle dolls encompass the final period. According to Campbell, they were made of bottles that were weighted down by being filled with sand or shot. The bottles were then covered with embroidered doll heads and clothes and used as door stops. Campbell conveys, “The bottle dolls are the most simply made, but have unusual charm, and are favorites today.” Black doll expert Pat Hatch collects non-caricature black dolls. She has been collecting these dolls for more than 35 years and has a website: www.countryandshakerantiques - DOT -com where she sells black cloth dolls and other antiques. Her ever-growing collection is inspired by her desire to educate others in the non-monetary value these dolls possess and make people aware of their existence. Her collection began when she saw an old black cloth doll and was struck by the way it was lovingly made and preserved. The truly older dolls she collects are not generally easy to locate. It has taken her years of attending doll shows to accumulate her more than 100-item black cloth doll collection. In her experience, Hatch has seen several ways modern dolls have been treated to make them look old. They are often stiffened, painted and might be even be dressed in truly old clothing. - See more at: