Dig It - 5/8/25
Hey Fellow Seekers! This early 20th-century Navajo doll blows me away. She is 18.5" tall and amazingly detailed! She has turquoise and shell bead earrings, a velveteen blouse with silver (tin) buttons, shell and coral bead necklaces, and two metal and turquoise squash blossom necklaces. She also has her woven Navajo sash with a metal poncho belt over it. Her “broomstick" skirt, copied from Victorian skirts worn by the wives of soldiers stationed at Bosque Redondo, is made from cotton fabrics typical of the 1920s. The most remarkable thing about this doll is that the squash blossom necklaces are actually made out of metal, and the Najas appear to be cast with turquoise/glass beads. Amazing detail!
The doll came out of the Traphagen School of Fashion, which was founded in 1923 and located at 1680 Broadway. It was dedicated to teaching American design and fashion. They once had a superb collection of early Navajo jewelry and other artifacts, such as this doll, that were used to teach the students.
Fellow Seekers, this is one of the greats. If you collect Navajo jewelry or Native American dolls, don’t miss this opportunity to own this one. Adios, Lonesome