African American Dolls

"The Cala Woman"

The Cala Woman Doll was inspired by E.W. Kemble's Sketch from Century Magazine, dated 1886.  This African American Heritage Doll is the first of the New Orleans Street Vendor Series of the 1800's.  Her face was the first of my African American Doll Collection, she was inspired by a strong endearing African American women of 90 years who at the time was still working in the cotton fields of Louisiana.  She stands twenty  inches in height and is set on a handcrafted wooden pedestal designed by Brian Bernard.  The Cala Woman Doll carries a basket of rice cakes called cala's on top her head.  The doll is dressed in a dark blue, red, and green print dress and white apron. (Note: Jewelry and dress fabric/print may vary depending on availability). Her wig is handmade from gray mohair strands.  The mohair wigs lend a natural authentic African American appearance to each doll.  Accessories are gold hoop earrings, an imitation golden brooch on her blouse and hand-sculpted calas. JoAnn's unique doll body design allows the Cala Woman Doll to be positioned in various ways by bending her arms at the elbow joints. This doll feature adds to the lifelike quality of the piece. Accompanying the character doll is a booklet and display card designed by JoAnn to include; the number of the piece, the inspirational sketch on the cover, a short bio, and a story about the character. All clay pieces are limited editions of 500. A numbered and signed Certificate of Authenticity is also provided with the character doll.

African American Dolls

by JoAnn Bernard

Original African American Dolls recreating Louisiana Life in the 1800's.  Learn about Louisiana Culture through this African American Heritage Doll collection inspired by sketches, photographs and stories of the 1800's.  These African American lifelike handmade dolls have attached booklets and display cards with short historical essays about the character.  All dolls are reproduced in clay using JoAnn Bernard's plaster molds developed from her original doll designs. Doll wigs, clothing, dress designs, and props are all handmade by the artist.

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