An interesting example of American folk art: a slave doll fashioned from fabric scraps and other materials, not dated but probably dating from ca. 1850-to the turn of the century. The doll is in the form of a female black figure. Her soft-stuffed body is made of white felt, and the face, hands, and feet are covered in a stiffer black material sometimes seen in socks or stockings. The doll wears a floral printed cotton sack dress and prairie-style bonnet. Measures approximately 12" long and 6.375" wide at the widest part.

The doll's face is sparely decorated, including two hand-sewn round eyes, a straight nose, and a slit mouth. While the body of the doll appears to be hand-sewn, the dress has been machine-sewn. The dress is heavily stained, with isolated areas under the arms and near the hem revealing the original, lighter color of the dress. The discoloration is so nearly complete, however, that the overall effect is one of appealingly old weathering. A safety pin and piece of twine are located near the doll's right arm. An illegible pen inscription reading in part "…primitive" is found on the back of the doll under its skirts, and was probably made by a former collector. Please see the photos for additional information about the condition.

Slave dolls like this one were often made by black caregivers for the black or white children in their care, either their own children or the slave owner/employer's children. The dolls were often made from leftover fabric. Cultural historians have remarked upon the important role that slave dolls played before the Civil War. Abolitionists used slave dolls to show the horrors of slavery, depicting dolls wearing slave collars for example; or alternately depicted dolls wearing fashionable clothing, to show the extent to which blacks could become "civilized." Black and white children who played with the dolls would have rehearsed roles delineated by socially accepted views of race.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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