I am a 41-year-old doll collector.
I collect modern Black and brown Barbies and fashion dolls, to be specific, and to be honest, I’m not the “leave in the box because they will be worth lots of money one-day” type of collector.
I actually remove my dolls from the box, dress them in the flyest outfits, style their hair and name them. Then I create scenes and pose them in crudely made dioramas that I put together using random boxes that I also, unfortunately, collect now. After that, I photograph them and post the photos to my adult (21+) doll page. Or the photos live on my phone with thousands of other photos that never see the light of day.
This is a fairly recent hobby of mine after discovering how diverse today’s dolls are from when I played with them back in the 90s. The dolls’ rich shades of skin color range from dark chocolate to cafe au lait. Their bodies are curvy, tall and petite. The hairstyles consist of Afros, braids, twists and dreadlocks. My collection has grown drastically in the last two years and I don’t plan to stop any time soon.
I thought me walking alone through the empty Barbie aisles was symbolic of being an adult doll collector but I was wrong! Doll collecting is not a new phenomenon but it is more popular than ever with more doll loving adults sharing their passions online through dedicated forums, Instagram, Reddit and in private Facebook groups. They meet up in real life in their cities through doll clubs and attend toy and doll-specific shows around the country to meet up with other collectors and peers.
Popular dolls include pre-World War 2 antique and vintage dolls, fashion and artists-based dolls like Barbie and Tonner, ball-jointed dolls; and the very popular Reborn dolls that look like real babies. The dolls can cost serious collectors anywhere from a few bucks to a few thousand dollars that they don’t mind spending. And while the higher-end collectibles are made of quality plastics and fabrics, they can lack the backstory and the cultural connection that African American cloth dolls can pass down.
I didn’t realize that until I attended the African American Quilt & Doll Show last month.
The two-day event was held May 17 to 18 at the Church of The Savior in Cleveland Heights with the theme “Stitching Stories: Celebrating Our Heritage.” Friday’s special guest speaker was the world renowned artist, historian, curator and author Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi. After switching gears in the 1980s the former aerospace engineer became an advocate of African American quilters, bringing attention and recognition to their work. She founded the African American Quilt Guild of Los Angeles and the Women of Color Quilters Network and is credited with helping to elevate the status of African American quilting from craft to fine art according to the African American Quilt & Doll Guild (AAQDG) show program.
Designer, collector and AAQDG member Muriel Tillman drove from Akron to attend the event. Asked what brought her, she replied, “All of the beautiful quilts created over the last year and to hear from Dr. Carolyn.”
Friday’s program included a make-and-take workshop, a quilt and doll trunk presentation and the Assane Seck Drum/Dance Troupe along with raffles and door prizes. Saturday’s lineup included keynote speaker Tanya Montegut, a fashion show, and a Parade of Vests showcasing intricately designed wardrobe from Guild members.
Saturday’s crowd (the day I attended) was a surprising mix of young and old, men and women, quilters, artists, fans, family members, and collectors who all came to admire the display of handmade quilts and doll displays that told stories, passed down family history and showcased the talents of quilters and crafters.
Seth Pickney of Cleveland Heights has been a long time fan and collector after his mother joined the Guild in 2006. He attended shows to witness the crafting and sewing skills of Guild members and eventually started purchasing quilt art for his walls. “You can’t find people to make this type of art everywhere,” he said.
In a write-up in the show’s program Evelyn Dorell, president of the AAQ&DG, said the show’s purpose is to “Celebrate the rich tapestry of African American culture and creativity” and to “present an array of exquisite fiber art, featuring both improvisational and traditional quilts alongside dolls crafted in the likeness of our members. We are also delighted to showcase an assortment of beautifully crafted quilted wearables, handbags and accessories.”
Chairperson Barbara Townsend said the event is “a platform to share our stories, traditions and creativity with the world. Each stitch in a quilt and detail in a doll tells a unique narrative that reflects our culture, history and experiences. Let us weave together our individual tales into a tapestry of unity and pride,” according to the show program.
Saturday’s guest speaker and self-taught textile doll artist Tanya Montegut was a great example of the narratives and tales intertwined with dolls and African American history. A Black cloth doll collector herself, Montegut used her time on stage to present the audience with her impressive doll collection that she had obtained over the years.
As the owner of over 40 dolls, Montegut takes pride in having met and engaged with each designer she has purchased from. She showed off hand-sewn dolls from Brazil and Liberia, dolls that were anatomically correct but faceless. Her own dolls were made from a wide range of materials like leather, velvet, wire, wood, light bulbs, a plastic spoon and a mop. My favorite doll from her personal collection was designed by Paula Whaley, sister to the late writer and activist James Baldwin. Whaley is a Baltimore-based mixed-media doll sculptor who uses clay, wood, tissue paper, fabric and yarn to create intricately textured garments.
Montegut shared the stories of several dolls and how she obtained them and also encouraged the audience of collectors to consider what should happen to their collections after death, “Donate them to museums, schools, colleges and libraries to make sure your collections go somewhere special,” she said.
Guests were asked to touch the dolls, encouraged to pick them up to understand the details and the craftsmanship that went into the designs and see how the chosen materials gave the dolls dimension and movement.
Next up was the fashion show, where members of the Guild and their families modeled an array of colorful quilted garments that featured reversible pieces, busy textiles that showed scenes from Impressionist art and Japanese-inspired designs, along with mud and kente cloth fabrics and other avant-garde pieces.
Tiffany Hodges of Cleveland Heights has been to a few of the shows and always looks forward to the fashion portion of the event. “I like to see people create their own things and show off the creative spirit of the community, all of the bright colors and patterns,” she said.
After the fashion show wrapped, members of the Guild were called to showcase their technicolor vests in a parade that ended the event on a high note.
“It gives insight into a culture you may not be familiar with. I explored nice artwork and jewelry and I appreciated the time and effort. I’m glad I came,” said Dwayne Cheeks of University Circle who attended the event because he knew the president of the organization.
For more information on the African American Quilt and Doll Guild and to see how you can get involved visit their website. And if you are interested to learn more about Black Barbies, be sure to check out the new Black Barbie documentary on Netflix!
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