Doll, black man dressed in livery

Dateca. 1812

Artist/Maker David Catheal

MediumWood, paint, wool, cotton, silk, leather, metallic threads

DimensionsOH: 14 1/2" Depth 2 3/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Wilson

Object number1992-17

DescriptionCarved wooden doll of an African-American male wearing a suit of livery. Doll has short hair carved in curls, black painted eyes, slightly flattened nose and wide mouth painted red. Clothes are sewn on, consisting of white cotton shirt with high pointed collar; black tie with rear stock buckle; lavender wool waistcoat with red fabric buttons and white back fabric; brown ribbed cotton breeches ending below the knee with no knee band and three buttons on each side of knee; black silk knitted stockings; black leather "straights" shoes with sewn-on buckles; and outer tail coat of red wool with black collar and cuffs, trimmed with metallic and silk thread buttons and cord.
Label TextDoll dressed in Livery
Carved by David Catheal
United States, ca. 1812
Carved and painted wood, wool and cotton clothing
G1992-17, purchased with funds donated by Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Wilson
This powerfully rendered wooden doll wears a brown coat with contrasting red collar and cuffs typical of servants in livery suits. The multicolor thread buttons are similar to those on full-size men's livery suits. A handwritten tag sewn to the doll's back reads "Scipio. Carved by David Catheal dressed by his Mother 1812." The location of the carver is unknown.
MarkingsSigned "Scipio/ Carved by David Catheal (Cattreal?)/ dressed by his (underlined) Mother/ 1812" in ink on sewn-on cotton tag.