Name: Shawana
Made by and When: Bettina Feigenspan-Hirsch for Zapf, 2000
Material: Vinyl and cloth with an armature (vinyl jointed head, breastplate, arms to the elbows and legs to the mid-thigh; stuffed brown cloth body and upper limbs)
Marks: (Neck) 16 / B. Feigenspan- / Hirsch (Lower back) artist’s signature
Height: 26 inches
Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Light-brown human-hair wig styled in multiple braids accented with leather ties has wispy bangs; side-glancing brown crystal eyes with applied upper and lower eyelashes, closed mouth
Clothes/Accessories: Shawana wears a blue and tan linen outfit of drawstring pants and a matching tunic top with an asymmetrical hemline and tan machine embroidery trim. The tan vest ties on the sides under each arm and also has an asymmetrical hemline. Underneath the clothes are cream-colored knit underalls. Tan leather sandals, a wooden beaded necklace, and a jasper charm on a leather strap complete the fashion. A clay jar inside a white cloth drawstring holder, which is seen in one of the gallery photographs, was also included. The bear by Annette Funicello was added by the curator.
Other: Shawana is an artist doll sold through Zapf of Germany before the company ceased the manufacture of high-end artist dolls. Created in a limited edition of 850, Shawana has a hang tag and a certificate of authenticity. This particular doll is one of the back cover dolls of The Definitive Guide to Collecting Black Dolls (see the last gallery photo).
Gallery
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