Lot 255

Ghost Dance Lakota Sioux Beaded Double Doll

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 amazing and rare large double doll, or double-sided doll, depicting the Ghost Dance movement from the Lakota Sioux Native American Indians. The doll was attributed as being a Ghost Dance Double Doll by the experts at Alvord Munn in Mayhill, New Mexico. This example features an Indian tanned hide and heavy, stuffed, large doll showing two different designs on each side, referred to as a Ghost Dance double doll. The doll has red stroud old wool and muslin trade cloth construction, along with Indian tanned hide showing Indian tanned hide dress and cape with crescent moon, four-point morning star, five-point stars, a spotted shield, and spotted symbols in white mineral paint, all common 1890 Ghost Dance symbols. The doll has what appears to be real human hair and early seed pony and trade bead facial features in red-white hearts, chalk white, green-white heart, petit dark green, and cobalt coloring, along with mother of pearl carved button ears. The figure has two necklaces, one with multi-layer chevrons, wound Russian glass and the other with Columbia River beads and a mother of pearl pendant. The doll has a beaded belt and ribbons in the hair. At the bottom are the amazing two-sided moccasins, with the foot coming out of both ends for the double sides of the doll, done in Indian hide and glass trade seed beads of greasy yellow, sky padre light blue, red-white heart, and blue. The dress and cap have fringe cut from the hide, which is painted with mineral ocher on the inside edge in colors of red and blue. Ghost Dance Double Dolls are very rare and stem from the Ghost Dance Movement, which started in 1890 by spiritual leader Wovoka (renamed Jack Wilson) of the Northern Pauite—a practice to reunite the living spirits of the dead to fight on behalf of the alive and end the white's westward expansion and bring peace. The piece was said to be from the 20th Century from Alvord Munn but has early 1890-1900's material and manufacturing characteristics. Measures overall 18.25" H by 11.5" W.