cornhusk doll

cornhusk doll

cornhusk doll

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Introduction

This cornhusk doll of a female was made by Mrs. Baird and completed with a full outfit. Her clothes are made from fabric, including black and red common stroud, and a purple silk blouse with black stripes of the "short gown" type. There are snaps on the blouse. The skirt is decorated with two narrow ribbons of different sizes. Size 10 seed beads in clear maroon or burgundy and black, as well as size 12 seed beads in clear red and opaque white. The mocassins are made of hide. GRASAC researchers thought the doll's hair is made from black silk, however, museum records suggest horsehair. The doll is sewn with cotton thread. The features on the face have been painted on.

This relative currently resides at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

Name of Maker(s): Mrs. Baird
Maker role: Artist
Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe Menomini
Nation of Origin

Menomini

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

Museum documentation

Place of Origin: Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
Date Made or Date Range: Early 20th-century
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Museum documentation and GRASAC researcher visit.

Materials

Fabric, Corn husk, Ribbon, Glass, Hide, Metal, Horsehair or black silk, Pigment.

Techniques or Format

The artist soaked the cornhusk in warm water. The cornhusk is tied together with cotton thread. Once the doll's head is formed, the artist painted on the nose, eyes, and mouth with pigment. The horsehair or silk 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.

Dimensions: 24.3 × 7.4 × 4.5 cm
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

Museum documentation

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
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Miss Fairchild
Collection Narratives and Histories

Miss Fairchild donated the cornhusk doll to the President and Fellows of Harvard College.

Source for Provenance information

Museum documentation

GKS Reference Number: 58949
How to Cite this Item

Mrs. Baird. Cornhusk doll. GKS ID 58949. Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology catalogue number 16-18-10/86696.

Record Creation Context

Two records for this doll were identified on May 31, 2024 (GKS ID 26581 and GKS ID 58949). Cara Krmpotich combined the information into the record for GKS ID 58949.
Cory Willmott, Alan Corbiere, Adrianna Grecci Green and David Penney conducted research on site at the Peabody Museum for Archaeology and Ethnology in July 2007 with help from Susan Haskell and Patricia Capone of the PMAE. Cory Willmott's research was funded by a grant from the American Philosophical Society. Al Corbiere was supported through Ruth Phillips's SSHRC Canada Research Chair Funding. An internal grant from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provided Cory with an RA, Ceara Horsley, for 2009 and 2010 to work on GRASAC data entry.

Approximate Place of Origin

44.510788813782, -88.010081876888

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