E0463: Seminole Doll

Ethnographic

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Identifier:

E0463

Classification Category:

9:Recreational Artifacts ➞ Toy

Marks/Labels:

Was once located at EC094 Level 2

Materials:

fabric ➔ cloth
fabric ➔ thread

Dimensions:

7 cm L
5.5 cm W
8.5 cm H

Source Locality:

Osceola Village, Naples, Florida, USA

Acquisition Date:

1970 – 1971

Description:

Seminole doll making is a well-documented process and tourist souvenirs like this doll help support the tribal economy. Burned palmetto fibers and cardboard are collected to make the frame. The frame is traditionally stuffed with more palmetto fibers but they has recently been replaced with cotton. The facial features and clothing are added once the frame has been shaped and stuffed, followed by the hair or a bonnet. The final step is the addition of beaded jewelry.

This doll has a typical cylindrical body made of woven brown palmetto fibers. She is wearing beaded jewelry, a cloth double skirt, and black bonnet. This style is very similar to traditional female Seminole clothing. She is intentionally vague-looking as the Seminole people believe that it is bad luck to make a doll an exact representation of a living person.

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