Hand Made Dolls

Hand Made Dolls

If there is a universal child’s toy, it may well be a doll.  Whether hastily made from scrap material at hand, or painstakingly made to exacting detail, dolls “speak” to our humanity.  At first glance, dolls are simple play-things… suffering the ravages of many other mere “toys”.  However, there are many other reasons dolls are created and decorated for children.  Dolls may also be used to teach children important cultural and educational lessons in dress, hair style, adornment and dexterity.

Some dolls are created for specific purposes or occasions.  Others are made with whimsy and artistic license.  There are no limits to the variety of dolls.  This author is particularly interested in beadwork as a decorative medium.  By making a basic cloth doll body, there are unlimited ways to construct and decorate these miniature personalities.

Northern Plains Style Dolls

The dolls illustrated  to the left are dressed in Northern  Plains clothing.  The male wears a brain-tanned shirt decorated with seed bead panels.  Brain tanning is a traditional method of tanning leather using the brains of the animal.  There are other variations in home tanning that also yield a superior soft leather ideal for beading on.   Note the beaded belt bag attached.  The wool leggins and breech clout are similarly decorated with glass seed beads.  The hair is made from horse tail, stitched to the face with antique seed beads.  The woman is constructed the same way.  Note her cowrie shell earrings and necklace.  Her dress is reminiscent of the days of old when elk teeth were sewn to dresses as symbols of wealth and status.

 

Great Lakes Style Dolls

Originating from the Eastern Great Lakes, this doll couple to the right clearly reflects the influence of European trade goods. Notably, their garments, made from cotton and wool, are intricately decorated with glass seed beads, showcasing skilled craftsmanship. Additionally, the male’s headpiece and armbands are stamped from metal, further emphasizing the use of traded materials. Moreover, their hair consists of wool, carefully sewn onto a brain-tanned leather head, demonstrating the fusion of traditional techniques with imported resources.

Plains Style Hand Made Dolls

The Plains doll on the left is made from unsmoked Braintanned deerskin.    The yoke is beaded with antique glass seed beads.  Her earrings are beaded with glass pony beads in reproduction colors.  The breastplate is made from antique bugle beads and old bone rings.  The tin cones are hand made from antique materials.  The hem of her dress shows traces of the calico under-dress.

 

On the Plains doll pictured the right, the dress is constructed from Braintanned deerskin.  The yoke is unsmoked (off-white) and the skirt is smoked hide. Braintanned hides are often smoked.  The smoke helps the hide retain its softness even if it becomes wet.  Additionally, the smoking process leaves a wonderful “smoky” fragrance.  Unsmoked hide may dry stiff if it gets wet.

The top of the dress is adorned with cowrie shells, adding a distinctive decorative touch. Additionally, beadwork in an antique translucent rose-colored bead highlights the dress, enhancing its intricate design. Furthermore, the concho belt features a beaded knife sheath, contributing to the overall craftsmanship. Over her left arm, she carries a wool blanket with a beaded blanket strip, a traditional decorative element.
Historically, when buffalo hides were tanned, they were often cut in half to make them more manageable. Then, after the two halves were tanned, artisans would sew them back together, ensuring the material was large enough for a wearing robe. To conceal the stitches, they added blanket strips over the seam, creating an aesthetically pleasing finish. Even after wool blankets became widely used, the decorative tradition of blanket strips persisted and continues to the present day.

About the Author:

Author Andy Bullock is a Master Craftsman who lives in Canada. He created all of the dolls pictured in this article.  Andy owned The Wandering Bull Native American Craft Shop with his father, Paul Bullock for many years. You will find more examples of his craftsmanship for sale at The Wandering Bull!

Doll examples and close up shots below.

 

 

 

 

 

The Wandering Bull, LLC carries the materials you need to create and dress your dolls.   You will find Scrap Leather for the bodies and Seed Beads for the beadwork.   You can also purchase Metal Spots for belts  and Cowrie Shells for dresses.