Female. Two piece buckskin dress fringed at shoulders, sides, and hem. Bodice beaded with bands of geometric designs. Layered skirt with two rows of geometric beadwork atop fringe. Beaded footwear with turned up medallion shaped toes. Beaded earrings. Lace slip.

Dolls were typically made for children to play with and were made to resemble humans, including tribal clothing and designs. Through play, the dolls “were used to communicate tribal values, practices, and customs” (Cotherman 2007, 24). Children learned how to prepare food, hunt, care for children, and make clothing by imitating adult behaviors in play. The clothing the dolls wore reflected the designs and patterns of that tribe or family tradition and often resembled human clothing the maker would create (Cotherman 2007).

Typically Apache dolls were made of a female puberty dance style; however, this doll's dress is a more formal style. This doll was possibly made for sale with more ornate design or for a young girl.

Tags: doll, cactus kicker moccasins, multi-colored beads, commercial
People: Apache
Places: Southwestern, possibly Fort Sill Apache, Southern Plains,

From interviews with Dr. Garrick Bailey, 2018-2020 University of Tulsa, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology