Black Doll Collecting: August 2023

Thursday, August 31, 2023

32-inch Princess Tiana

In the fall/winter of 2022, Target began advertising the 32-inch articulated Princess Tiana doll shown on the left. Because I am an avid Princess Tiana collector, I purchased my doll in early November 2022 when it was on sale. The doll arrived on November 15, 2022. I was at the hospital with my mother when I received the delivery notification. I called my husband to alert him that the package had been delivered and asked him to bring the box inside.

Until recently, I thought I had written a blog post about this doll, but with so much going on at the time of purchase (my mother's grave illness, hospitalization, and subsequent transition on November 25, 2022), I had no desire or energy to remove the doll from the shipping box after it arrived. As a result, the doll remained in the shipping box until May 2023 when I needed to use the shipping box to ship a Madame Alexander Cissy that I sold. I took photos in May 2023 at that time but never wrote the blog post.

32-inch Princess Tiana is seen in a photo taken in May 2023 after I opened the shipping box to use it to ship another doll. In the photo, the top of the shipping box has been cut off to snugly fit the Madame Alexander Cissy doll and box. The cut-off portion sits on top of the lower portion in this picture just to illustrate the original height of the box.

After Playdate Tiana arrived in November 2022, the shipping box sat outside my doll room door unopened until May 2023 when I needed to use the shipping box as described above. I intended to write a blog post and/or add a photo and description of the doll to my Virtual Black Doll Museum Princess Tiana installation shortly after the shipping box was opened. When I searched this blog for photos of this doll on Saturday, August 26, 2023, no photos resulted in the search. That is when I realized I had not written the post here nor had I added the doll's information to the museum. So, this is that post.

Using Target's description of the doll (because it was still in the shipper), I entered the doll's information into my Excel spreadsheet for 2022 doll purchases as follows:

This is a photo of Playdate Tiana's spreadsheet entry—click on the photo or stretch it to enhance readability.

I left the "Marks" cell blank on the spreadsheet entry because the doll's neck and/or back marks are not visible since she remains attached to the manufacturer's box. The very last cell to the right of the "Other" cell, which is not visible, is labeled "Photos." For this doll, since it was still in the shipper when the Excel entry was recorded, I used a stock photo, but I usually use a photo that I have taken.

Princess Tiana has large brown eyes, parted lips, and a painted area that represents teeth.

This fully articulated doll holds a serving plate.

It is now August 2023 and she still remains in the manufacturer's box, but I can see her. Because of the accessories, I will probably keep Playdate Tiana inside the box. Otherwise, I would have to store the accessories separately.

The final picture illustrates the beautiful back-of-the-box image that features the doll and a little girl admiring it.

A photograph of Playdate Tiana is on the back of the box.

Playdate Tiana's information has been added to the Princess Tiana museum installation, which can be viewed/read here.

Sold out at Target's website, Playdate Tiana is available on Amazon #ad.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

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Black Doll Enthusiast

I am a Black-doll enthusiast, doll historian, freelance writer, author of The Definitive Guide to Collecting Black Dolls; Black Dolls: A Comprehensive Guide to Celebrating, Collecting, and Experiencing the Passion; and The Doll Blogs: When Dolls Speak, I Listen.

Founder and curator of DeeBeeGee’s Virtual Black Doll Museum at virtualblackdollmuseum.com Please visit and become a contributing patron. Black dolls are my passion, my drug of choice. They renew my spirit!

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Of Birds and Lilies No Worry Zone - Updated

Of Birds and Lilies No Worry Zone is a new book by doll artist, Crystal McMurray.

In her new book, Of Birds and Lilies No Worry Zone, Crystal McMurray uses her one-of-a-kind art dolls, furry friends, and diorama creations to tell a doll-lightful story about conquering the tendency to worry and overthink the unknown.

Available as a Kindle book and now in print, it is a quick read for adults or children.

Use either buy link below for the desired version:

Kindle Version: #ad

Print Version: #ad

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Black Doll Enthusiast

Friday, August 25, 2023

I Found Him!

Cantinflas figure

In my previous post, I asked for help identifying this 33-inch man figure that wears a houndstooth suit with a cigarette in its mouth.

After the post was published, I did some additional research and found the same figure on eBay. It is described by the seller as follows:

Vintage, rare Cantinflas 3-D movie theater lobby standee with faux hair, fabric suit and ascot. Head turns and arms move in every direction. Don't know movie, but houndstooth suit, ascot and ever present cigarette identify the Cantinflas character to the Cantinflas fan. Cantinflas figure has weighted legs so item can be placed on any flat surface. Cantinflas measures approximately 34 inches tall, 9 inches wide, 5 inches deep. Head, hands and shoes all show surface wear, and face shows some discoloration (see photos). Faux hair is beginning to shed. Ascot is somewhat disheveled; however, suit appears to be in good condition. Great conversation piece. Great piece of memorabilia for the Cantinflas fan.

Here is the link to the eBay auction.

Who was Cantinflas? Wikipedia has the answer:

Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes (12 August 1911 – 20 April 1993), known by the stage name Cantinflas (Spanish pronunciation: [kanˈtiɱflas]), was a Mexican comedian, actor, and filmmaker. He is considered to have been the most widely accomplished Mexican comedian and is celebrated throughout Latin America and in Spain as a popular icon. His humor, loaded with Mexican linguistic features of intonation, vocabulary, and syntax, is beloved in all the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America and in Spain and has given rise to a range of expressions including cantinflear, cantinflada, cantinflesco, and cantinflero.

Like his 33-inch (or 34-inch by the eBay seller's measurement) figure, Cantinflas (the comedian/filmmaker) appears to wear a brown houndstooth suit in this Águila o sol DVD photo cover. (The Águila o sol film is from 1938; so, the figure is probably from that year as well. It quite possibly represents the role Cantinflas played in this 1938 film.)

The figure in this completed auction wears the same suit and might be the actual way the Cantinflas figure was used since one hand is designed to hold something.

Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes a.k.a. Cantinflas

The above photo is from the I Am Cantinflas biography website.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Black Doll Enthusiast

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Who Am I?

Unknown 33-inch male figure

Speaking for this figure,

I am a 33-inch male figure. I don't know if I am a doll or a store counter mannequin. Because of my clothes, my owner thinks I might be from the '30s or '40s.

I was formerly owned by a collector who has passed away. Her family did not know anything about her dolls, most of which were from the 1920s through 1950s.

I have a tan-brown complexion, black straight hair, and a cigarette or cigar in my mouth. My body, legs, and left arm are straw filled with a wire inside for posing the arm. My right arm is jointed in the shoulder and elbow and also made of wood. My feet are wooden shoes. The bottom of one of my shoes has a paper label marked 'Made in Spain'. My hands are solid latex rubber and are molded to hold something. My eyes are glass, and my eyebrows are either hair or some kind of fur. My head is either made of thick paper maché or paper maché over composition and my face is flocked.

Who am I?

Any leads that will help identify this unusual figure will be greatly appreciated and passed on to the current owner. Thank you in advance.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Black Doll Enthusiast

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

@Mynaturalistas Commented

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DGarrett (@blackdollenthusiast)

I posted the picture above on Instagram with the caption: Latinistas Liv and Naturalistas Paige do not share the same head sculpt.

@mynaturalistas made the following comment:

Yay! We were waiting for y’all to notice. 🥰 FUN FACT: NATURALISTAS face sculpts are comprised of our founder DeeDee (and IRL Peety’s) facial features…particularly their cheekbones, jawlines eyes and little button noses. For LATINISTAS, DeeDee not only assembled a multicultural team of Latino talent through the founding of @purposetoyslatin , she commissioned a Latina toy designer to sculpt culturally nuanced faces for Las Amigas. 💟 …a sculpt to reflect aspects of Euro-Indigenous facial features, and one to reflect aspects of Afro-Latina facial features.

Because, at @purposetoys , we understand accuracy in CULTURALLY diverse products start with the teams who contribute to their design.

What this means is our CULTURAL characters are built with the same loving hands from the communities each character represents. Soo you’ll never see a line of Purpose Dolls with the exact same faces features, labeled as different ethnicities. Ever.

We love and have enough respect for true CULTURAL representation, to ever speak over, short-change or trivialize the experiences of CULTURAL communities, by offering ill-conceived collections for headlines. We truly care about the people and the communities we CELEBRATE .👑🙏🏾☺️

My reply to the comment can be read on Instagram. :-)

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Black Doll Enthusiast

Latinistas LIV

Latinistas Liv

Latinistas Liv arrived Monday, August 21, 2023. I ordered this doll from Target's website the day before it arrived. The super-fast receipt for this order was impressive.

Liv is one of four dolls in the Latinistas line that I wrote about here the day after the dolls and fashion packs were available on Amazon to preorder. By the time I published that post, the dolls were shown as unavailable. I had been waiting for the dolls to return to Amazon, but when they did, the price had more than doubled. So I waited and now they are all available at Target stores and on their online site for $12.99. I ordered some other items, so shipping was free. (The Latinistass are now available on Amazon again. Find Liv's buy page below.)

Of the four Latinistas dolls, Liv has the deepest complexion and was the one that called my name.

As indicated on the lower front of the box, Latinistas [are] Una Celebración de la Cultura Latina - "A celebration of Latina Culture."

Liv's bio and all four dolls in the Latinistas line are featured on the back of the box.

Liv's bio on the back of the box reads:

I'm Liv

From sunny Southern California, Liv (best friend to Lola) is a talented aspiring singer, and top music student at a prestigious performing arts school.

Known for her edgy style and big heart, when Liv isn't studying (or practicing with her band) she enjoys vocal lessons from her Abuelita, who is a retired legendary singer of guarachas.

Liv enjoys teaching traditional guarachas to the children of her community and believes music and family are the [key] to a happy life.

Motto: "La Musica Viene por Dentro" - "Music Comes From Within."

Liv has beautiful long jet-black rooted, wavy hair and brown-painted eyes. Her full lips are painted dark red. She wears a green sleeveless dress that is trimmed in bright blue. Latinistas is written across the front and the Latinistas logo (a capital L and a heart) is imprinted on the dress. Liv wears gray heart-shaped stud earrings, a faux double-stranded black beaded necklace, and a black watch.

Liv's platform-soled knee-high black vinyl boots are attached to the box liner.

Latinistas Liv and Naturalistas Paige for comparison

While the Latinistas' head sculpts appear to be the same as the sculpt used for Naturalistas by Purpose Toys, LLC., they are different. Liv's lips are fuller and her jawbone is wider than Paige's as illustrated in the comparison photos above and below.

Liv and Paige do not share the same head sculpt.

Manufactured by Purpose Toys Latin, which is a division of Purpose Toys, LLC., the company's mission is "to center and celebrate communities of culture while reminding children to love who they are and always remember La Cultura Viene del Corazón - 'Culture Comes From the Heart.'"

Liv's Amazon buy page

See all the Latinistas on Amazon.

Liv's buy page on Target's website should include links to the other Latinistas' buy pages.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Black Doll Enthusiast

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Doll Purchases in Review Part 2

eBay doll-related purchases on October 26th and 27th 2020

In this series of blog posts, I am reviewing dolls and doll-related items purchased on eBay that date back to 2020. This is post 2 in the series. The link to the previous post in this series is at the end of this post.

I made two eBay purchases on October 26, 2020.

Candy-stripe-print dress

October 26, 2020. The candy-stripe-print dress is designed to fit 13-1/2-inch Paola Reina dolls. I purchased it for Maru and Friends Halle Minipal to wear. After determining that the dress would fit Halle through message communications with the seller, I asked the seller if she could make a bolero for the dress. She didn't think she could, but much to my surprise, she made one at no extra cost and sent it along with the dress. See Halle wearing the dress and bolero here. Also check out this seller's current listings if you are in need of reasonably priced clothes that fit Paola Reina and similar-sized dolls.

Cloth doll diapers

October 26, 2020 I needed diapers for two 16-inch vintage dolls that were loaned to a museum for a black dolls exhibition. I purchased two sets of diapers designed to fit Bitty Baby. They didn't quite fit the intended dolls. So, I informed the seller (since I had given her the dolls' measurements and she assured me they would fit before the purchase was made). The seller made two larger diapers for me that fit perfectly and arrived in time for the scheduled exhibition. A doll friend took a photo of the dolls that were on display in this out-of-state exhibition.

1/6 male jeans jacket and pants

After I successfully placed my Chadwick Boseman action-figure head on an appropriate body, on October 27, 2020, I ordered the above jeans jacket and pants. Chadwick modeled the two-piece fashion along with a red turtleneck sweater that I purchased separately. Chad is featured in this blog post.

Read part 1 here.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Black Doll Enthusiast

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Doll Purchases in Review Part 1

I recently reviewed my eBay purchase history and revisited purchases that extend back to October 2020. I have decided to share the doll and doll-related purchases in a series of blog posts. This is the first post in the series.

1/6 scale male muscular action figure

On October 1, 2020, I purchased a muscular action figure body with the intention of using it for a Chadwick Boseman head that I purchased after the actor's untimely death in August 28, 2020. Read the results of that plan here.

Shackman Sleepy Baby

On October 11, 2020, Shackman Sleepy Baby from 1957 was on its way to the collection. Read about Sleepy Baby here and view the Virtual Black Doll Museum installation here.

H. Hargrove painting

Because I love most things related to black dolls, I had to have this painting by H. Hargrove of a little black girl tucking her doll in bed. The painting was purchased on October 17, 2020. Read the blog post about it here.

This series will continue as a fill-in for days when I have nothing else doll-related to write about. Except for this week, unless something else to write about surfaces, the series probably will not be completed in back-to-back posts.

Until next time,

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Black Doll Enthusiast

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Double Dutch Dolls Sascha

Double Dutch Dolls Sascha uses the same box as the first two dolls in the line. The back of the box contains the same descriptive text which does not mention Sascha because she had not been produced when the first two dolls, Kaila and Zaria, were released. Sascha's name is, however, on the front top corner of the box.

The third doll in the Double Dutch Dolls line, Sascha, was released in 2015. I added the first two dolls, Kaila and Zaria, to my collection in 2014 after they were released. I was supposed to receive Sascha in 2015, but due to an oversight that was recently rectified, my doll's arrival was delayed for several years.

Like the two dolls that preceded her, Sascha is an 18-inch thin-bodied all-vinyl doll with multiple points of articulation. She has a straight black page-boy-style wig, brown stationary eyes that seem to have a faint purplish hue, applied upper eyelashes, a closed mouth, and a lovely ebony complexion.

Photographs and captions of Sascha and group photos of Sascha with Kaila and Zaria are included below.

In this picture, Sascha remains attached to the decorative Double Dutch Dolls box liner.

Completely removed from the box, Sascha strikes her first pose.

Sascha's stylish ensemble includes an asymmetrical white tunic that bears the Double Dutch Dolls logo on the front. The black leggings have a white and silver graphic design on the legs. A salmon jacket, white panties, white lace tights, black socks, and black ankle boots complete her fashion statement. (Sascha and the other two dolls are very well dressed with great attention to detail for each garment.)

Sascha uses the same head sculpt as Kaila and Zaria. Like the other two Double Dutch dolls, Sascha's ears are pierced. Earrings for the dolls were sold separately.

To examine the vinyl arms, body, and legs, Sascha's clothing, socks, and shoes were removed.

A Double Dutch Dolls guest post was written in 2014 by the creator of the dolls to introduce Kaila and Zaria. It was published on this blog in 2014. I amended that post after my Kaila and Zaria arrived to caution collectors that their legs were stained black in areas where their black socks touched the vinyl. I examined Sascha's body to make sure it is stain-free. Thankfully, it is.

I have washed Sascha's black socks and black leggings as a stain-prevention measure, but nine years post-production, since they have not stained by now, chances are they will not.

In the last two photographs, Sascha posed with Kaila and Zaria.

Kaila, Sascha, and Zaria use the same head sculpt but the differences in their complexions, hairstyles, and hair textures create a unique look for each. There is a notable difference in Sascha's eye color.

In this full-view photograph, Sascha poses again with Kaila and Zaria.

As I noted at the end of the Double Dutch Dolls guest post, I was able to remove the stains from Kaila and Zaria's vinyl with an acne cream that contains 10% benzoyl peroxide. I also washed their socks and Zaria's jacket to prevent re-staining. To protect their vinyl, I wrapped their legs and Zaria's arms with saran wrap before redressing was done. After Sascha arrived, I checked Kaila and Zaria's vinyl. It remains stain free. Redressing the dolls in non-black or other colors that will not stain the vinyl is always an option. Their thinner, 18-inch bodies might make it challenging to find clothes for them unless you sew. I like their original clothes, so in these, they will remain.

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Black Doll Enthusiast

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Mini Chou-Chou Stain Removal

Mini Chou-Chou dolls by Zapf

I purchased several Mini Chou-Chou dolls from the Doll Market several years ago. I kept a couple for larger dolls to hold and I sold the rest. The last four were sold together, which was documented in a blog post in July 2012.

Mini Chou-Chou with an ink-stained nose and upper lip.

Recently, I noticed staining on the nose and upper lip of one of my remaining Mini Chou Chou dolls. The photos below illustrate what was done to remove the stains.

I generously applied Family Dollar brand acne cream to the stained areas and placed Mini Chou-Chou on the kitchen windowsill for four days where she would receive indirect (morning) and direct (afternoon-to-evening) sunlight.

I removed the acne cream after four days to see if the stains were gone. They were still faintly visible.

I reapplied more acne cream (which contains 10% benzoyl peroxide--the ingredient that helps remove ink stains from vinyl)...

...and Mini Chou-Chou was placed back on the windowsill to receive more sunlight, which speeds up the process of benzoyl peroxide stain removal from vinyl. She was left there for three more days.

After the third additional day, the acne cream was removed and the stains are gone!

Because this stain removal treatment has worked for me countless times, a tube of acne cream with 10% benzoyl peroxide as an active ingredient is kept on hand at all times.

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Black Doll Enthusiast

Thursday, August 3, 2023

Barbie's Predecessor Bild Lilli

A custom black Bild Lilli holds a mini replica of Bild, is a German tabloid newspaper published by Axel Springer SE, first issued in 1952. - Photo courtesy of T. Fisher

In response to a comment on a previous post wherein the above custom black Bild Lilli is featured, I recently searched Pinterest boards for black and white versions of original Bild Lilli dolls and reproductions. (The early 1950s doll originated in West Germany as a white doll and is Barbie's predecessor.) Reproductions of the original Bild Lilli can be found today. One popular reproduction artist creates both black and white versions and calls them Lilli Lalka. His name is Julian Kalinowski.

View two unboxing videos below of Lilli Lalka dolls by Youtuber, Manny, published on the "Some Like It Vintage" channel.

The comment on the previous post that prompted this post is copied below:

SBAugust 3, 2023 at 12:25 AM
I’ve been learning a lot about dolls recently. Knowing the suppressed history of Bild Lilli made me sympathetic 2 her. This one is gorgeous [the doll in the leading photo of this post] — perfectly painted & still looks like Lilli. Her kimono’s lovely too. Would love 2 C perfect reproductions of Lilli along with dark skinned versions.

I suggested that SB search Pinterest boards for "perfect reproductions of Bild Lilli along with dark skinned versions."

It was not suggested to SB, but I took the liberty of creating a Pinterest board of black and white Bild Lilli dolls and pinned them side-by-side as much as Pinterest pin placement allows.

View my Black and White Bild Lilli Pinterest board here.

The original blog post that prompted SB's comment can be read here.

Read more about the history of Bild Lilli here.

We all knew (doll collectors, that is) that the July 21, 2023, release of the Barbie movie would prompt interest in Barbie from noncollectors as well as increase the interest of already fascinated Barbie enthusiasts. Several articles have featured Barbie collectors as a result of the movie. We all also know (doll collectors, that is) whether are not we love, despise, or have an indifferent relationship with her, Barbie remains the #1 fashion doll in the world, thanks to Bild Lilli and Ruth Handler's "insight."

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Black Doll Enthusiast

Pages

Thursday, August 31, 2023

32-inch Princess Tiana

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Of Birds and Lilies No Worry Zone - Updated

Friday, August 25, 2023

I Found Him!

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Who Am I?

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

@Mynaturalistas Commented

Latinistas LIV

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Doll Purchases in Review Part 2

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Doll Purchases in Review Part 1

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Double Dutch Dolls Sascha

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Mini Chou-Chou Stain Removal

Thursday, August 3, 2023

Barbie's Predecessor Bild Lilli

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