Relics of the American West: 1850-1920 - ONLINE ONLY
Lot 2511:
Description
These handcrafted dolls showcase traditional Great Plains or Plateau style artistry, likely dating from the mid-20th century. The larger male figure is meticulously crafted from buckskin or sueded leather, featuring a fringed tunic and leggings accented with vibrant red and turquoise seed beads in a geometric “lazy stitch” or “lane stitch” technique. The smaller female figure is dressed in a deep navy blue wool or heavy cotton trade-cloth dress, extensively adorned with white “pony” style beads to simulate a dentalium shell or elk tooth pattern. Both figures feature braided yarn hair and hand-stitched facial features. An interior view reveals a striped fabric lining and a handwritten “23,” suggesting a possible collection or inventory mark. Both dolls show signs of age-appropriate wear, including light soiling to the leather, minor fading to the blue fabric, and small areas of bead loss, but they remain structurally sound. The set includes a turned dark wood display stand. Male: H 12″, W 5″, D 2″; Female: H 8″, W 4″, D 2″; Stand: H 5.5″, W 4″, D 4″. Please see photos.
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