1930s–1940s Southern Folk Art African American Occupational Cloth Dolls — Pair

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Wonderful pair of vintage handmade African American folk-art character dolls, dating approximately to the 1930s–1940s.
Each stands approximately 9 inches … Read more Wonderful pair of vintage handmade African American folk-art character dolls, dating approximately to the 1930s–1940s.
Each stands approximately 9 inches high and is individually constructed and dressed in period textiles with remarkable miniature accessories.
The male figure is depicted as an outdoorsman/fisherman, wearing a broad-brimmed hat, neck scarf, patched trousers and carrying a long fishing pole with fish, miniature metal pail, bundle of sticks and a cotton-filled bundle.
His companion wears a red polka-dot head scarf, hoop earrings, layered blouse, vest, apron and floral skirt. She carries a beautifully handmade miniature closed umbrella and cloth bundles tucked beneath her arm.
Both figures have dark cloth bodies with individually rendered facial features and stand on their original rectangular bases.
The extensive handmade detailing—the miniature fishing equipment, umbrella, clothing, patched trousers, bundles and accessories—gives the pair considerable sculptural presence despite their relatively small size.
These are compelling examples of early 20th-century Southern American folk-art doll making and African American material culture. Similar cloth dolls are represented in institutional collections, including William & Mary’s Special Collections Research Center. See less