2016 WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge
~Rare~
My husband inherited a cedar chest and amongst the few things left in the chest was this doll. I didn’t know anything about the dolls before this one. This is a Skookum doll. We don’t know who bought it nor when. It may be over 70 or 80 years old.
This Skookum Doll is 11 1/2 inches tall.
He has a banner that says ‘Painted Desert Park, Ariz.’
His legs are squared wooden dowels.
His shoes and leggings are felt.
He wears a headband.
He has a folded blanket wrapped around him so that it looks like he has folded arms.
*The Skookum Dolls aren’t authentic Native American Dolls. They were first made by a woman named Mary McAboy in 1913 and were produced until the 1960’s. The first ones she made she carved the heads out of apples. There was a problem with shelf life of the dolls. When they became popular as souvenirs, she teamed up with a manufacturer and started making the heads out of composition or plastic.
Wishing you all fun with the WP photo challenge!
Here’s a couple of links for further reading:
Skookum doll http://www.wow.com/wiki/Skookum_doll
Skookum dolls http://www.skookumdolls.com/
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Joys Of Creating 
I love learning about new things! Thank you so much. That was interesting.
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You’re Welcome Nadine
I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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I have never seen a doll like this one. The eyes are very different. I will go read the link.
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Thanks Laura
The story is a fairly interesting one. I agree his eyes are quite different. 🙂
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What a beautiful doll! A true treasure indeed! I’d never seen such a doll or heard of them before. =)
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Thanks so much CW
He really is a pretty doll considering his age. He’s a fun treasure too. 🙂
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I remember seeing pictures of apple-head dolls. I wondered how that worked out long-term. This one has nice facial features-that will last.
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Thanks Patti
I agree, he has nice facial features. I’m glad his face is made of composition or plastic so it’ll continue to hold up. 🙂
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Yes, he’s a keeper.
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🙂
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E.C.. my sister-in-law has a collection of these dolls! She also makes Indian dolls which you might enjoy seeing: http://www.chipbutterwhiteoak.blogspot.com The Skookum dolls are quite interesting.
8-26-2016 edited in by EC: I hope you don’t mind, I fixed your link. Thanks so much for sharing it. 🙂
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Thanks Charlotte
Thanks so much for sharing your sister’s link with me. Her dolls are wonderful. She’s a very talented lady. What an enchanting collection of dolls she has.
The way the Skookums are made is a curiousity to me. I was so surprised at how simple and clever it is the way their body is made.
Thanks again Charlotte. You made my day! 🙂
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What a lovely surprise to find the doll in the cedar chest. Interesting to know how it was made. I enjoyed reading the other links too.
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Thanks Crazyqstitcher
He’s an interesting doll and a fun treasure too.
Thanks for visiting and leaving me a happy comment.
I hope you’ll visit again sometime.
🙂
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What a wonderful find in the cedar chest! It’s interesting to learn about the Skookum doll. Thanks for telling about this post.
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Thanks so much Sheryl
He was/is a fun surprise. We think he’s a cool looking fellow. We’re happy to have him.
The Skookum dolls have a curious long history. I enjoy learning new stuff about him. Too.
I didn’t realize there was a Skookum apple. Thanks for posting about them.
You’re welcome about my telling you of this post. Thanks so much for visiting it and leaving me a happy comment on him. 🙂
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Hello all.. I have been collecting Skookum Dolls for well over 30 years now & have a Facebook page dedicated to them that some of you may be interested in.. https://www.facebook.com/groups/758639474887933
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Hi Skookes,
Welcome and thanks so much for visiting my blog.
I hope you’ll visit again some time.
🙂
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