Materials

Fabric, Corn husk, Ribbon, Glass, Hide, Metal, Horsehair, Pigment.

Techniques or Format

The artist soaked the cornhusk in warm water. The cornhusk is tied together with strings. Once the doll's head is formed, the artist drew on the nose, eyes, and mouth with pigment. The horsehair is placed on the doll's head. Also, the doll's ribbon shirt, skirt and leggings are sewed separately. Lastly, glass beads are sewn onto the cornhusk's moccasin vamps.

Motifs and Patterns

The motifs on the moccasin vamps consist of a floral design.

Original and Subsequent Uses

A child's toy.

Condition: The cornhusk doll is well-loved, meaning worn. The doll's ribbon shirt and skirt are torn from use, and the fabric's dye is faded from age. However worn, the doll's leggings are in good condition. The beadwork on the moccasins is intact.

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Peabody Museum's date records.

Current Location: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge, MA, USA

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 16-18-10/86696

Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1916

Collection Narratives and Histories

Miss Fairchild donated the cornhusk doll to the President and Fellows of Harvard College. It is housed in the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

Exhibition History

The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University classifies the cornhusk doll as a toy.

GKS Reference Number: 58949