Name: 1997 Christmas Doll Kwanza
Made by and When: Robert Tonner, 1997
Material: Vinyl, synthetic hair, paint
Marks: (Head) Robert Tonner / ©1994; (handwritten on the right buttocks) #11/500
Height: 15 inches
Hair, Eyes, Mouth: The black synthetic wig is styled with curly bangs and two side braids that crisscross in the back and are pinned up and attached to the top of the head. The painted eyes are brown with painted upper eyelashes in the corners of the eyes and a hint of painted lower eyelashes with brown-outlined lower eyelids
Clothes: Wears an Afrocentric burgundy and gold batik blouse with a matching wrap skirt and head scarf; white panties, gold tone earrings, two gold beaded necklaces; a brown, tan, and gold necklace; and real leather strappy sandals.
Other: Made in the U.S.A., Robert Tonner’s 1997 Christmas Doll Kwanza uses a sculpt very similar to his ©1994 Nina sculpt, except Kwanza’s nose is not as broad. Kwanza has a certificate of authenticity hang tag certifying the doll as #11 of 500 dolls worldwide. This edition number is also on one end of the doll’s heart-themed white box.
In 1966, Dr. Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa (with two a’s at the end) to promote community and culture among the family of African Americans. Unrelated to Christmas, Kwanzaa is a harvest festival celebrated from December 26th until Jan. 1st. Dr. Karenga’s spelling includes an additional “a” to add a seventh letter to correspond with the seven traditional African principles honored during Kwanzaa (unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith).
To commemorate the harvest festival, Robert Tonner chose the original Swahili spelling of Kwanza (with one “a” at the end).
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