The great Indigenous nation of the Sioux Peoples are known among some doll makers for a highly beaded leather doll with no face. She is called "Grandmother" and is a long standing tradition.
It is common in the culture that toys not be made to last. The idea is that children grow up and leave these childhood things behind. The grandmother doll was made so well, with great love, that you can occasionally find a vintage doll in fair condition. These are prized among collectors of dolls and Indigenous art and craft collectors.
The meaning behind Grandmother, with no face, is: she has no ears to hear a child's bad words, no eyes to see their bad deeds and no mouth to tell a child's secrets . . . a child's best friend is Grandmother. This concept teaches the value of elders in society and respect for the "white hairs".
This is such an amazing right of passage for the young and the old, that I have created my own contemporary version that is washable and soft sculpted - for cuddling. Another variation from the Sioux doll is that I paint mine to replicate various North American tribes, including the Sioux.
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| Each is approximately 10 -12" tall |
Early on, I tried various fabric, including felt and leather, and skin colors.
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| They then evolved to use brighter colors of non toxic, washable paints. |
Presently, my dolls are made with earthy colors to replicate leather clothing or bright colors to represent various broadcloth and beading. ALL have taken on white hair to show the age represented by the doll.
All of my dolls are inexpensive, washable, non-toxic and come with a Certificate explaining the meaning of "Grandmother".
www.lindarousartist.com
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