cornhusk doll

cornhusk doll

cornhusk doll

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Introduction

This relative is a cornhusk doll with a wire frame, made in the image of a woman with a child on her back. The mother is wearing black and red clothing with beaded decorations along the bottom of the skirt, and a black shawl is wrapped around her body. She is also wearing brown moccasins. The child has their arms outstretched, an unusual design for this type of figure. The child is wearing a red shirt, with what might be a black pinafore dress over top. They also appear to have a tan or light brown fabric hood or bonnet on their head. The Museum's records identify this relative as coming from Tuscarora.

The cornhusk doll currently resides at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

Maker role: Artist
Nation of Maker: Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee Tuscarora
Nation of Origin

PMAE catalogue record

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

Museum documentation

Place of Origin: Tuscarora Reservation
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Peabody Museum catalogue record

Materials

Corn husk, red fabric, black fabric, metal wire, glass beads.

Techniques or Format

The bottom of the skirt has beadwork with clear and white glass beads.

Motifs and Patterns

The bottom of the skirt has a beaded zig-zag pattern.

Additional Context

The mother is wearing a long skirt, typical of Haudenosaunee/Tuscarora women's tradition clothing.

Dimensions: 17.3 × 7.4 × 3.3 cm
Condition: Good, however, the mother's face has been worn away. Traces of the features on the child's face are still visible.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Museum documentation

Current Location: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge, MA, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 00-5-10/55171.3
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1900
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Huntington Frothingham Wolcott Fund
Previous Collectors: John W. Sanborn
Source for Provenance information

Museum documentation

GKS Reference Number: 58897
How to Cite this Item

Unnamed Tuscarora Artist. Cornhusk doll. GKS ID 58897. Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology catalogue number 00-5-10/55171.3
Image © President and Fellows of Harvard College, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, 00-5-10/55171.3

Record Creation Context

Two records for this doll were created by GRASAC researchers. The first was produced following a visit to Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University (Cambridge, MA) by Wahsontiio Cross and Alexandra Nahwegahbow, assisted by Meredith Vasta on 11-12 August 2015. The second record was created by Autumn Epple, GRASAC RA, May 27, 2021. Cara Krmpotich merged the two records together on May 31, 2024.

Approximate Place of Origin

43.163766203196, -78.946491522014

Source of Information about Places

Museum catalogue record

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