La Maison Rouge

"The "Black Dolls: The Deborah Neff Collection" exhibition at La Maison Rouge showcases an extraordinary assemblage of dolls collected by Deborah Neff. The collection includes around 200 dolls dating from 1840 to 1940, primarily made by African-American women. These dolls range from simple designs made of a sock and rag to complex figures demonstrating dazzling needlework skills. The exhibition highlights the dolls' quiet dignity and their role as toys meant to be loved and played with. The dolls are crafted from materials like cloth, leather, wood, and found materials, with some displayed in shadow boxes or as topsy-turvy dolls, symbolizing racial unity and separation." - Lynn Yaeger