Dig It - 5/12/22
Dig It!
Am I too old to play with dolls, maybe, but I’ve got to say I love Native American made dolls. To me, they are reflections of what these people and tribes looked like back in the 19th century. These dolls were made with pride and attention to detail.
This Apache doll is probably Mescalero or Lipan and dates to the 1870s. It represents a young woman in her “puberty ceremony” costume. Her face is left un-detailed because of the Apache prohibition against showing an individual’s features and witchcraft. However, the doll maker has gone over board in creating the dolls costume, with rich pigmented hide, glass beads, and tin cones. There is even an earring in her left ear. Though probably made for sale, this craftsperson did not stop when she went over what the trader would pay her for her work, this creation is truly a work of art.