Fertility Dolls: Ndebele Tribe

I came across the Fertility Dolls website when I researching yesterday's post on the wooden fertility dolls and realized there's a beaded version. Cool! They're made by the Ndebele tribe of Southern Africa who hand bead stunningly colorful dolls.

A suitor will give one to a young woman he'd like to marry. A young woman is given one to take care of, she names the doll and takes care of it then her first born child is named after the doll.

You can purchase a sweet beaded fertility doll from their website.


(Photo credit: All photos courtesy of Fertility Dolls dot net).

The colors are stunning, don't you think?

Fertility Dolls: Ghana

Fertility dolls have a rich tradition in Africa. What I thought of as fertility dolls are the wooden dolls of Ghana. I was surprised to learn of another kind that I'll blog about tomorrow. The wooden dolls are meant to be worn by the woman wishing to become pregnant or should be placed in the bedroom. Below is one lovely example.


Asantewaa, a pair of fertility dolls made by Daniel Nyadedzor represents the brave queen mother of the Ashanti people of Ghana.

Another representation of a strong woman! I'm drawn to the shape of the doll, the oversized head and small body with pointed arms. Her face has a serene expression with the wood providing an overall texture.

What are your thoughts on this?

Kokeshi Dolls

Yesterday, I talked about the dolls I had growing up. Dolls are a part of all cultures. Folk artists create dolls in countries all over the world. In Japan, folk artists make Kokeshi dolls.


Traditional Kokeshi dolls shown above, according to Wikipedia are

"handmade from wood, have a simple trunk and an enlarged head with a few thin, painted lines to define the face. The body has a floral design painted in red, black, and sometimes yellow, and covered with a layer of wax. One characteristic of Kokeshi dolls is their lack of arms or legs. The bottom is marked with the signature of the artist."

Modern style Kokeshi dolls don't adhere to the structure of the traditional dolls.

Above is a cute modern Kokeshi doll, isn't she adorable?

Dolls, dolls, dolls

I had dolls, you probably had dolls and in the 1980's Cabbage Patch Kids made it ok for boys to have dolls (wasn't GI Joe a doll?). I've been thinking about dolls as a potential bead series so I've been researching my childhood and probably yours too.

Here's the first doll I remember getting for Christmas one year - Chatty Cathy. The commercial is for an older version of the one I had. Watch the commercial, I had that winter coat with the fur, minus the hat. No not for the doll, my sister and I had a version and I have a picture of the two of us in front of a Charlie Brown Christmas tree when I was probably 3 and a half. Anyways, here's Chatty....



One year, I wanted a Barbie, but was given a Skipper instead. I think because she cost less than the Barbie.



Then there's "Swingy" - where the toy companies co-opted the swinging '60's and made a doll out of Nancy Sinatra!

I finally got the Barbie, The Living Barbie! There was nothing better than Marsha Brady and Barbie (I had a version of Marsha's jumper too!)



What dolls did you have growing up? Dancerina? Baby Secret? Comment and tell me who you had!