Black Doll Collecting: June 2024

Thursday, June 27, 2024

Three More Justyne Smith Dolls

Eight circa 1940s cloth dolls by Justyne Smith

A few days ago, I resumed the restoration of more circa 1940s cloth dolls by Justyne Smith. In December 2023, I received eight dolls by Smith from doll artist Trish Williams. All needed restoration. I restored the first three in February 2024 a few weeks after Trish Williams transitioned.

The second set of Justyne Smith dolls was photographed before restoration began.

I retrieved the second set of three dolls from the shed to begin their restoration. These three were in better condition than the first three and required less work to restore.

First, I took several "before" pictures. To avoid fully wetting their bodies (a mistake I made with the others), I rubbed these three down from head to toe with disinfectant wipes. Some of the clothes were hand-washed, but these were wiped with disinfectant wipes first.

Individual Before Pictures

A 17-inch auburn-haired boy is illustrated from the front and back.

A 25-inch redheaded girl is illustrated from the front and back.

A 17-inch girl is illustrated from the front and back.

I removed the clothing items that needed washing, sprayed each with stain remover, and soaked these overnight in hot water, liquid detergent, and Oyx-Clean.

The boy's shirt and jacket were removed.

The larger girl's pinafore was removed.

This photo illustrates a stain on the back of the girl's pinafore and the yellowing of the boy's shirt.

The clothing was soaked in warm soapy water.

After soaking, the boy's white shirt remained yellowed near the collar and chest area. I soaked it again for 45 minutes to an hour in equal parts hot water and hydrogen peroxide. This solution whitened the shirt.

Hair nets held their restyled hair in place.

Next, I finger-combed the yarn hair and braided or re-braided the girls' braids. Hair nets held the hair in place for over 48 hours.

Clean and ironed clothing

After the washed clothes dried, I ironed each piece. I did not wash the dark plaid dress fearing the colors might bleed, but I ironed out the wrinkles as illustrated next.

I ironed the larger girl's dress.

I needed but did not have beige ribbon for the smaller girl's braids. So, I tea stained white ribbon by soaking it for approximately an hour in a cup with hot coffee and a turmeric tea bag. The tea bag did most of the staining.

The formerly white ribbon stained nicely.

After the ribbon was rinsed and dried, I cut and tied a piece around the ends of the smaller girl's braids. I used a piece of the same ribbon to replace the larger girl's original sewn-on ribbon headband and tied green string around the ends of her braids to match the trim of her pinafore.

With the dolls tidied and redressed, I took the next photos.

Shown in a full-length photo, this trio's restoration is complete.

The trio is shown in a close-up photo after restoration. They look happier.

Combined Before and After Photos

The boy cleaned up nicely. His shirt is no longer yellowed, his jacket is clean, and his hair is combed.

The 25-inch girl looks much better with a whiter pinafore, rebraided hair, and new ribbons for the braids.

The smaller girl required the least care. One braid was rebraided, the bangs flattened, and ribbons added to the braids.

The dolls circled in the next photo are the last two needing restoration.

The restoration of the dolls circled in green is forthcoming.

Related Link

Circa 1940s Cloth Dolls by Justyne Smith

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

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

__________

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Tuesday, June 25, 2024

All About the Face

Club Wedd Barbie uses the Mackie head sculpt.

Club Wedd uses a non-articulated body with click-bend knees and slightly bent arms at the elbows.

I dressed her in a white party dress.

Because of her coiffed hair and pearl necklace, I dressed her in a white party dress and transparent pumps. The lacy bodice is strapless and the skirt is layered tulle.

She models this simple, yet elegant ensemble below:

The hair is stiffened with curled-up ends and side-swept bangs.

This photo illustrates the back of the hairstyle.

Here she is one final time.

~~~~~~~~~~

African American Rapunzel Barbie from 1997 uses the Mackie head sculpt.

Other known Black dolls that use this lovely head sculpt include Rapunzel (shown above), Avon-exclusive Lemon-Lime Sorbet (1998), Pottery Barn Kids Barbie (1999), and Mariposa (2008). The only linkable images found online of African American Mariposa are in eBay auctions. Search eBay to view current listings of Mariposa.

I love the Mackie sculpt!

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

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

__________

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Revised: Black Barbie Documentary Articles to Read

The first Black Barbie is joined by other Black Barbies that followed: Reproduction of the 1st Black Barbie (2009), the 40th Anniversary Black Barbie (2019), Mattel's 75th Anniversary Barbie (2020), and Fashionista #221 to celebrate Barbie's 65th Anniversary (2023)

I am enjoying the press coverage the Black Barbie documentary is receiving. I also enjoyed viewing the documentary at 1 a.m. on June 19th, and I'll watch it again.

Published on D Magazine website, A Fort Worth Filmmaker Chronicles Her Circuitous Appreciation for Dolls in ‘Black Barbie’ on June 18, 2024, the article briefly covers filmmaker, Lagueria Davis's reasons for creating the documentary. It "explores cultural identity, examines representation and inclusion, and traces a family history."

Published on The Guardian website on June 19, 2024, Someone who looked like me focuses on the women who created Black Barbie.

View a clip from the documentary here.

It's undisputed that the first Black doll named Barbie had a significant impact on the doll world and in the world of Barbie lovers in general, particularly, Black children, adults (mostly women), and other people of color. Black Barbie quelled the desire for them to see themselves in a doll that was not just a friend of Barbie, but one that embodies the ideal of the "it" doll that has, can do, and be anything. Why? Because representation matters.

View another clip here.

Before the first Black Barbie, all others stood on the sidelines idolizing the original first American fashion doll with a mature bosom that gained and has maintained iconic status. It took 21 years for Mattel to relent and allow the once standalone white Barbie title to be shared by a Black doll, which was not intended to diminish the original doll's place in doll society, but to give the Black doll the appearance of equal standing while allowing Black children to see themselves in Barbie, too.

Watch the trailer:

If you've viewed the documentary, please share your thoughts in a comment. Thanks!

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

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

__________

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Amahle by Global Girl Dolls

Amahle is a 21-inch doll by Global Girl (photograph courtesy of Shalviyahsroom)

Amahle by Global Girl Dolls was a generous gift from a collector who knew I admired her. Amhale arrived during the summer of 2023 and was installed in DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum on October 13, 2023, but I never introduced her here. This post is that introduction.

Patricia Logan is the generous collector who gave me this gorgeous doll. Patricia purchased Amahle from another collector, Tina Jones, of Shalviyahsroom.com sometime during or after 2018.

Amahle wears her arrival fashion and matching sandals as seen in photos taken by Tina Jones of Shalviyahsroom.

Amahle arrived wearing a lovely African-print dress with matching sandals that Tina designed. Patricia also sent the doll's original clothing. I temporarily redressed Amahle in the original clothes and photographed her for the virtual black doll museum installation after which she was returned to the Shalviyahsroom fashion.

Amahle is seen in a photo taken after she arrived in July 2023.

After Amahle arrived, I took the above photo of this gorgeous doll for my records.

This is another one of my photos of the beautiful Amahle.

Part of a group of six dolls representing different nationalities, Amahle represents a young girl from South Africa. Including her current residence, she has lived in at least three US states.

Read more about Amahle and see her wearing the original clothing at the link to the museum below. Visit Shalviyahsroom at the link to see and/or purchase some of her beautifully crafted doll clothing, shoes, and accessories.

Saturday, June 15, 2024

Black Barbie Fashionista 221

Barbie Fashionista #221 (stock photo)

If you missed ordering Barbie Fashionista #221 before it sold out a few weeks ago, the doll is back in stock on Amazon.

Use This link.

#ad

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

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

__________

Thursday, June 13, 2024

Black Barbie Documentary Netflix Trailer

View the Black Barbie Documentary Netflix official trailer here, and mark your calendar for the June 19th premiere.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

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

__________

Barbie Looks #21 Redressed

Barbie Looks #21 redressed

I redressed Barbie Looks #21 in this simple tan sweater tunic, tan cap, black tights, and white sneakers.

Before redressing

In the photo above, Barbie Looks #21 and Ken #24 wear their original clothes.

After redressing, I captured several photos of this lovely doll that uses the Heidi sculpt in a video short. View it here.

Finally, she posed with Looks Ken #25.

Ken Looks #25 poses with Barbie Looks #21

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

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

__________

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Looks Ken #25 Gets Redressed

Looks Ken #25 sizes up a male fashion doll clothing package.

I knew I would redress Barbie Looks Ken #25, but finding clothes for him might pose a problem because of his buff body. I ordered a 32-piece clothing and accessories set for him (sold/made in China) a few weeks ago hoping that everything would fit him. Some of it does, but just as I feared, several pieces do not.

The set includes two jackets, four shirts,...

...four pairs of pants, and an athletic set.

The accessories include four pairs of boots, two pairs of loafers, two headsets, two pairs of identical sunglasses, and seven hangers.

The hats are too small!

I'm not sure which doll the cowboy hats are scaled to fit, but they certainly do not fit Ken. I tried one on Looks #21 Barbie, and it doesn't fit her either. Vintage Skipper's head is too large for the hats. Maybe a Kelly doll with straight hair can wear these if I don't find another use.

The boots and shoes are shown closeup.

The white boots fit snugly with a slight gap in the back. The others fit nicely. Both black shoes are too small. He'd develop bunions if I forced the tapered-toe loafers on his feet. I won't do that to Ken.

Both pairs of identical black-framed glasses fit and the headsets fit.

All the shirts fit, but only one pair of separate pants fit Ken (sigh), the aqua plaid, which only suits his taste for lounging around the house.

Ken models three of the shirts with the aqua plaid pants in the next three photos:

A graphic tee

A white muscle shirt

Another graphic tee

Ken is still wearing the aqua plaid pants.

Next, Ken tried on the black faux leather jacket and a different pair of black boots. He determined he could pull this look off outside the house.

The tan pleather jacket

The tan pleather jacket is too small. Ken looks like he's wearing his little brother's clothes.

Made of jersey knit, the athletic outfit works well for Ken's muscular body.

Ken looks good in the white athleisure outfit. The opening in the back and Velcro closure make the top easier to put on and off. Note the gap in the back of the snugly fitting white boots.

On the left, Ken is so happy he's found something he'd like to wear that he's doing the Carlton dance.

Worn with black boots, a two-piece hand-sewn fashion by Shasarignis received last year will give Ken something to wear in cooler weather. He tried it on with and without the jacket with one of the muscle shirts from the 32-piece set.

Slender-bodied Kens can wear the pants that do not fit #25's muscular body.

Looks Ken #4

Because of his slender body, Looks Ken #4 wanted to try on some of the clothing.

Ken #4 wears the black jacket.

The black jacket fits him. His heels tend to slide up in the back of these loafers. He cannot wear the tapered-toe loafers.

The tan jacket

The tan jacket pairs well with the orange boots and his original white shirt and pants.

A graphic tee shirt

The gray graphic tee and dark denim jeans are worn with #25's silver boots. Ken #4 can wear these jeans with all the other shirts in the set and with any of the boots.