Lot 202

Apache Beaded Wood & Hide Doll c. 19th Century

Estimate: $1,500 - $2,500

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
This is an excellent wood doll covered in Indian hide and beadwork from the Apache Native American Indians, dating to the fourth quarter of the 19th Century. The piece was said to have been collected from the Apache at the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona in circa 1930. The piece shows a carved wood doll that is covered in a trade muslin cloth and Indian tanned hide, beautifully adorned with period correct glass trade seed beads in a geometric pattern and rolled jingle cones, brass tacks, metal tack beads, and real human hair. The hid shows red mineral pigment ocher/ ochre dyes, along with red stroud trade cloth and some Germantown yarn sewing. The beadwork shows colors of white, greasy yellow, red white heart, greasy blue white heart, and greasy blue. The piece is trade thread sewn and shows high/ tall cactus kicker beaded moccasins, beaded dress/ skirt, beaded cape, beaded necklace, earrings, and facial features, as well as a beaded hair brooch. The arms for the doll are also carved from wood and are articulated, tied onto the bottom and able to move. This is truly a fantastic early example. For other examples, see the Apache Doll from late 19th Century sold by Skinner’s Auction 2017 for $8,610; the Apache turn of the century doll from Schmidt’s Antiques Auction in 2013 for $6,000; and the Apache Doll fourth-quarter 19th Century from Cowan’s Auction in 2018 for $4,000. Provenance: From a private museum collection in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region of France. The doll measures overall 14.75” H by approx. 6” W by 2.25” D.