Doll, Decorative
Object number2015.82.11 a,b
Artist
Anna Marie Fiori
Date1982
MediumCeramic; Paint; Glaze; Fabric; Velvet; Cotton; Metal; Plastic; Adhesive
Credit LineGift of Anna Marie Fiori
DescriptionHandmade male doll representing regional Italian dress. Painted ceramic head, shoulders, hands, and lower legs with remaining body made of cloth. Light brown painted hair and brown eyes. Blue velvet hat. White long-sleeve fabric shirt with buttons made of a silver sequin and a green bead on a straight metal pin. Black fabric jacket with red lace and yellow yarn trim around edges and cuffs. Jacket’s proper left front panel has three colored fabric diagonal stripes: green, white, and red. Red fabric sash around waist. Black fabric pants come just below knee. Brown knit stockings. Painted black shoes. Doll is mounted on a gray enameled metal doll stand.Dimensionsa and b together and including doll stand: 19.75 × 8 × 4.5 in. (50.2 × 20.3 × 11.4 cm)Marks(a) Doll stand has impressed maker’s mark on underside at center “[crown logo] / KAISER / CHICAGO”.
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
