Rare VTG Native American Indian Wood Cloth Doll 11 " By Mary Frances Woods 1930 ' S
Item History & Price
Offered for sale antique, vintage, used handcrafted Indian doll by well known artist Mary Frances Woods. I am not sure if this doll represent Skookum Indians or some other tribe. As I have information the artist most of the time spend with tribe in Oregon. Doll is 11" tall. Head is made of some harder material, including neck and upper torzo. It is probably carved wood or some other polymer? Face/head is covered with some kind of leather or corn husk or paper crepe. It is glued a...ll over the wooden base, sewn on side or connected by hot wax. Kind of molded face.That is how it looks to me. I am not familiar with artist technique, I am describing what I see . The face has is hand painted and for eyes artist used probably glass pins or beads? Black hear is sewn and glued on the top of head. I believe that once this young Indian person had long black braids and some feathers/beads. The hear shows wear and partially disappear from the head. There is a purple bend on the hear made of cloth. The body is in good condition, made of stuffed cloth, chest is strong, wide, hard stuffed, . She or He is wearing terracotta orange typical Native American soft wool dress with fringes, belt and soft cloth moccasins. I believe that this doll is a character of a younger male, possibly female? Face is showing soft character of a younger person, I am not sure it is a boy or girl ? My family support opinion that this doll is a female. Probably doll had a necklace, or some other decorative object, in each moccasin I found a bead. I was looking online for similar image regarding identification and how old it could be, I found just one, but without information. Probably from 1930's. Please see all my pictures regarding condition. The doll has more wear on the head/hear than over body. I am not sure that hear is natural... or from different material, anyway it is very soft, possibly wool. This doll will benefit a lot of hear restoration and adding some decorative objects.The whole body structure is in good condition, free of holes, rips, broken parts, dress has little lighter color than original, slight fading over time. I try to describe this doll to the best of my knowledge and observation. This doll was bought in Washington DC area about 20 years ago. I am going to list many dolls from my collection during this holiday season, so please keep checking. Rare, collectible, Native American doll made by renewed artist. Excellent addition to your Native collection. Fill free to ask any additional question or details. Thanks for reading.
