Native American Doll In Ceremonial Attire

North America, late 19th century Height: 32 cm Origin: Southeran collection

This doll is distinguished by the finesse of its face and the richness of its set. Her natural hair is separated into two braids, held by hand-woven fabric ties. The eyebrows, the eyes - with the iris and the white of the eyes -, the nose and the mouth are composed of microscopic pearls. The nose is made up of four small pink pearls superimposed.

The ears are decorated with bone elements, with rows separated by fine wooden slats and pearls. A necklace of large garnet red pearls holds a circular mother-of-pearl medallion of about  a few mm, chosen for its natural design: an orange area marks the center, contrasting with the light and iridescent perimeter. The belt is composed of circular discs made of glossy white metal.

The costume, richly adorned with pearls, is completed by long fringes. The hands appear under those of the arms. The doll is wearing a pair of beaded moccasins. The photographs make it possible to appreciate the many details of its decoration and its execution.

By the finesse of its execution and the richness of its set, this doll is a piece of museum quality, likely to hold the attention of the most experienced collectors.