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1939.6.25B

Basswood bark doll, probably a male figure, made from bundled and plaited plant fibre. [the pair to this doll is 1939.6.26]. [JN 19/5/99]

1939.6.25B

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Collection type
Object
Description
Basswood bark doll, probably a male figure, made from bundled and plaited plant fibre. [the pair to this doll is 1939.6.26]. [JN 19/5/99]
Long description
Basswood bark doll, probably a male figure, made from bundled and plaited plant fibre. [the pair to this doll is 1939.6.26]. [JN 19/5/99] Description by Marcia Anderson, Chief Curator, Minnesota Historical Society, at 1999 visit: Two basswood bark dolls. [...] On the male doll the leg wraps need to be rewrapped and there is some fading. Dolls of basswood bark fibre which comes from the inner bark. The bodies of the dolls are natural coloured. The male doll has a dark blue dyed tuft of hair which sticks straight up from the centre of the head. Wrapped around the head of this doll there is a two ply band, one ply of which is green and the other is natural?. The arms are made of braided fibre. The male doll wears a red sleeveless tunic which goes down to the knees and which has green ties at neck and at the waist. From the toes to the knees the legs are wrapped in blue fabric, this ends in a knot. [...] Both dolls have simple eyes, nose and mouth which have been applied with dark blue dye. [...] [MdeA 8/3/2000]
Cultural groups
Chippewa
Person
Field collector Beatrice Mary Blackwood
PRM source Beatrice Mary Blackwood
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1939
Date collected
1939
Acquisition information
Purchased: 1939
Materials and processes
Material Bark Wood Plant, Material Pigment, Process Bound, Process Dyed
Dimensions
Height 280 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1939.6.25B
Research and responses

Description by Marcia Anderson, Chief Curator, Minnesota Historical Society, at 1999 visit: Two basswood bark dolls. Both are in good condition. On the male doll the leg wraps need to be rewrapped and there is some fading. Dolls of basswood bark fibre which comes from the inner bark. The bodies of the dolls are natural coloured. The male doll has a dark blue dyed tuft of hair which sticks straight up from the centre of the head. Wrapped around the head of this doll there is a two ply band, one ply of which is green and the other is natural?. The arms are made of braided fibre. The male doll wears a red sleeveless tunic which goes down to the knees and which has green ties at neck and at the waist. From the toes to the knees the legs are wrapped in blue, this ends in a knot. The female doll has longer dark blue dyed hair which runs from the centre of the head and is pulled down around the head and secured with blue band tied across the forehead. The doll has no distinct legs or feet. She wears a red sleeveless full length dress which is tied at the neck and waist with a green tie. The arms are braided. Both dolls have simple eyes, nose and mouth which have been applied with dark blue dye. According to a note from the vendor, older dolls had not faces. [MdeA 8/3/2000]

Search terms: Toy and Game, Figure, Doll Figure

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