Doll, Decorative
Object number2015.82.8 a,b
Artist
Anna Marie Fiori
Date1982
MediumCeramic; Paint; Glaze; Fabric; Metal; Plastic; 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. Light brown painted hair and green eyes. Headpiece is crown-like and made of scalloped white eyelet fabric and embellished with seven gold-tone metal fins (one fin is detached) and three pins with pearl-like ends (fourth is likely missing). Tea-length lavender dress with green-stemmed pink flower pattern; dress has white embroidered collar and cuffs; white fabric bib-collar; criss-cross pink satin ribbon down white fabric front; and pink satin ribbon on chest, shoulders, and cuffs. White eyelet fabric apron. Proper left arm is glued to hip causing it to protrude forward; arm has a multi-colored paisley pattern fabric draped over it. Two gold-tone metal earrings. Necklace is a single string of pink beads (five of the beads are detached). White fabric underskirt (petticoat). Painted black heeled shoes. Doll is mounted on a white enameled metal doll stand.
Dimensions19.5 × 9 × 6.75 in. (49.5 × 22.9 × 17.1 cm)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
c. 1880
