Name/Title
DollEntry/Object ID
2008.236.7.6Description
A Sioux grandma Ghost Dance Doll, with two braided grey horsehair braids. Doll is dressed in a commercial russet colored suede leather caftan style dress with long fringed sleeve edges and short fringe along bottom front with longer fringes in the back of dress bottom edge. It has painted on stars, bird, and circle design on arms and center front of the leather dress. Long hair braids are tied with a lighter colored (cream) leather string which hangs down past dress edge. Two short decorative beaded necklace is encircle the neck. They are made of old venetian glass beads and old metal beads and newer white beads are in between the venetian glass beads. The doll measures 12 1/2" from top of head to foot. Its face has three painted on tiny yellow circles, one at top and bottom and side, and a red triangle on each side of face edge. Hair is sewn on at center back of head. The doll is modern. Doll is in good condition, but has soiling, and a dark stain on the face of undetermined residue.
Update 2013: Label reads, "Ghost Dance Doll. This modern grandmother doll teaches about the Ghost Dance religion. The Ghost Dance spread among Plains Tribes in the 1890s. The objects painted on the dress are signs of rebirth, spirits, and nature. Native Americans wore for this type of clothing for protection".Collection
Barbara Cook Collection