Costume doll
Category
Dolls
Date
circa 1950 - circa 1976
Materials
Plastic doll
Measurements
190 mm (height)
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 658952
Summary
A mid-20th century national costume doll (also known as souvenir, world costume, tourist and foreign travel doll) representing a Native American woman. The doll made of plastic, with moulded head and painted facial features, and mobile eyes; the head now detached from the body. The arms are jointed, with moulded fingers. The black hair plaited in two, each plait tied with red wool, and dressed with a beaded and orange feathered band around the forehead. The doll wears a tan leather shirt and skirt, both fringed at the hem and beaded, and a red belt, with tan leather, beaded moccasins on the feet. Two beaded necklaces, presumably worn by the doll, are now detached. Four items in total. Costume dolls representing people of different nationalities in their local dress have been made since the mid-19th century. As global travel expanded ‘world’ dolls were produced as tourist souvenirs as well as children’s toys. They appear in a variety of media, from paper to porcelain, polymer to plastic. Produced to be instantly recognisable and collectible, ‘world’ dolls can portray a stereotypical view of peoples and cultural identities.
Provenance
One doll from a collection of costume dolls donated by Mr R.T. Macfarlane in 1976.