Doll, Decorative
Object number2015.82.7
Artist
Anna Marie Fiori
Date1982
MediumCeramic; Paint; Glaze; Fabric; Velvet; Metal; Adhesive
Credit LineGift of Anna Marie Fiori
DescriptionHandmade female doll representing regional Italian dress. Painted ceramic head, shoulders, forearms, and lower legs with remaining body made of cloth. Brown painted hair and brown eyes. White diaphonous pleated headpiece is circular with a center hole for mounting on the head and a red ribbon chinstrap. White fabric three-quarter-length-sleeve shirt with white diaphanous pleated collar with gold trim and gold embellishment down front. Vest made of red velvet fabric with criss-cross red cord down front. Multi-colored paisley pattern shawl with multi-colored fringe. Only proper left earring is in place; proper right earring is missing. Red velvet floor-length skirt with off-white eyelet top layer. White fabric underskirt (petticoat) and pantalets. Painted brown heeled boots.Dimensions22 × 12 × 4.25 in. (55.9 × 30.5 × 10.8 cm)InscriptionsRectangular paper label pinned with metal straight pin on the interior side of the skirt; the label has printed black text on the back side “PIEMONTE / Massaia di Carema nell’antico costume” and handwritten text on the other “White Umbrella 14”.
Translation:
“PIEMONTE / Massaia di Carema nell’antico costume” = “PIEDMONT / Housewife, Carema in ancient costumes”
Historical NotesThe 16” dolls were made by Anna Marie in 1982 for the Pittsburgh Folk Festival; each doll’s costume represents a different region of Italy. Besides making the clothing, the donor also crafted the ceramic heads, hands, and feet at Louise Malone’s ceramic shop in Penn Hills. Collection includes handmade dolls, ceramic conga (quartara), copper conga, Sardinian flute and pan pipe, ram’s horn, conch shell horn, wrist and hand castanets, Jew’s harp, triccheballacche, concertina, various handmade noisemakers, tambourine, and recorder. I Campagnoli was an Italian American folk troupe from the Pittsburgh area comprised of approximately 40 core performers with a focus on Italian folk singing and dancing. Originally directed by Lorenzo “Larry” Malfatti and Eugene Richards (and later Jane Ferro) and sponsored by the Italian Sons and Daughters of Italy, the group formed in 1964 and performed throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as in Italy and at the opening of the Italian Village in Epcot Center and Busch Gardens.
Related institution
I Campagnoli
On View
Not on view