Miniature Black baby doll with a dark pink dress
- Manufactured by
- Unidentified
- Date
- 1945-1952
- Medium
- paint on ceramic and ribbon with synthetic fiber and string
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 3 1/2 × 1 15/16 × 1 7/16 in. (9 × 4.9 × 3.7 cm)
- Caption
- This is a Black bisque doll manufactured in Japan during the U.S. occupation between 1945 and 1952. The doll is a white baby doll that was painted brown as a substitute for an actual African American doll and speaks to the lack of diversity in the doll industry at the time. Dolls like this were created for a mass market and repurposed to appeal to African American consumers because the doll industry lacked a multiplicity of Black skin-tones and facial features.
- Description
- A miniature Black baby doll with a dark pink dress. The brown painted bisque baby doll has articulated arms and legs. The doll has wide white and black painted eyes, red painted Cupid’s bow lips, rounded cheeks, and a button nose. She has a mostly bald head with a molded crest at the top and three pigtails; one on each side of face and one at the top. The pigtails are black shredded synthetic fiber tied off with thin, dark pink ties. She is wearing a dark pink, sleeveless dress constructed from pieces of identical ribbon. The body of the dress resembles a dress with bloomers. The dress wraps around the doll’s torso, under the arms. Another piece of ribbon is sewn into a ruffled skirt around the waist. Stamped on the upper back is the text [MADE IN / OCCUPIED / JAPAN].
- Place made
- Japan, Asia
- Place used
- Bedford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Toys and Games
- Type
- baby dolls
- Topic
- Amusements
- Children
- Families
- Race relations
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Claire E. Humphrey & Vickie L. Henry
- Object number
- 2023.48.1
- Restrictions & Rights
- Unknown - Restrictions Possible
- Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.