Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Who Knew She Could Be So Glamorous?

Mammy and Prissy by World Doll, both made during the 1980s, are portrait dolls of actresses Hattie McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen.  These two women played the roles of Mammy and Prissy in the 1939 movie, Gone with the Wind, based on the book of the same name by Margaret Mitchell.
Recently, fellow collector, Shawatha Kendrick, shared a photo of a doll with a face that looked strikingly familiar. I asked her to identify the doll.  I could not believe her answer:   She is a 'Prissy' doll.

Redressed Prissy by World Doll, circa 1980s, photograph courtesy of Shawatha Kendrick

Who knew Prissy was this glamorous underneath her servant's attire and white head scarf? I certainly did not.


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12 comments:

  1. Whoa! Not just glamour, but charisma. If I didn't know better, I'd assume she was a portrait doll of a successful career woman and social activist of the late 1960s or early 1970s (nobody specific in mind, but look at that gleam of determination in her eyes -- she'll always be gracious, but she'll convince you to do things).

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  2. I love seeing how different dolls seem to morph into other personas once they have a wardrobe change. She's so lovely!

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  3. Wow, what a difference a modern dress can make! She is looking very classy!

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  4. It's wild how different a doll's look can be with something as simple as an outfit change!

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  5. I got a Prissy last spring and was also very taken with her after I stripped off the slave costume. A tip for those who might want Prissy or Mammy. Sellers are asking outrageous prices for Prissy because she was relatively rare but if you get her in a de-boxed collection she can be dirt cheap. Lots of older people who collected those GWTW dolls are down-sizing or have passed on. You can find their collections on eBay at very reasonable prices. Just make sure it comes from a smoke-free home.

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  6. Prissy looks great redressed. She looks totally different in her glamour outfit.

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  7. Thank you, ladies for your comments. I am sure they have pleased the doll's owner.

    Thanks Paulette for the buying tips. I browsed eBay to check for current prices of Prissy and was as blown away by the sellers' asking prices as I was about the appearance of the redressed doll. I would definitely try to find one elsewhere on the secondary market or from an eBay seller that has Prissy reasonably priced.

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  8. Prissy does look great. I love her hair.

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  9. That glam, that hair style... makes me think she's on her way to dance on Soul Train.

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    1. Or perform... she has a 60s female singing group vibe.

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  10. She was already a pretty doll and she make the dress look great.

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