Artist Unknown, Navajo Dolls

Written by USU student Suji Woo

July 1, 2016

These dolls come from the Navajo, or Diné, the second largest federally recognized tribe in the United States. These dolls are not just playthings for little children. Many Native American tribes created dolls with their own special meanings and symbols. Dolls are symbolic and hold significance as demonstrations of tribal characteristics, and style of clothes.

The pair of dolls in the NEHMA collection wear Navajo style clothing. Usually Navajo woman are outfitted in a dress or skirt and top. Both men’s and women’s clothing is traditionally made of velvet, cotton or muslin and both men and women wear ties in their hair made of mohair, wool, or yarn. The man is dressed in traditional muslin pants with a cinched sash belt on his waist. The body is made of fabric and filled with cotton. The face is fabric with features drawn on.

There are two unique details on the dolls: the necklace and belt. The Navajo use turquoise, abalone, and silver in jewelry. The female doll wears a beautiful necklace made of turquoise that is called the squash blossom necklace.[1] The necklaces are often sewn right onto the doll’s dress, and are made of real turquoise and metal. Even though the pieces are very tiny the artist emphasizes the details. The belt, which is called a concha belt, is decorated with silver and some with turquoise[2]. The word “concha” comes from the Spanish and means round or oval. Concha is used to decorate saddles, clothing, and jewelry such as pendants and for adorning or making belts. Conchos could be of shiny or matte silver and are antiqued or highly polished. These two dolls beautifully depict Navajo traditional clothing and jewelry.

Sources:
1. "Navajo Squash Blossom Necklace – What Is Its History and Meaning?" Native American Jewelry Tips. 2011. https://nativeamericanjewelrytips.wordpress.com/…/navajo-s…/
2. Hill, Cherry. "Authentic Native American Indian Concho Belts." Concho and Concha Belts Hand Made by Native American Navajo and Zuni Indians.

This month's From the Vault is part of an object-based research assignment from Professor Sandra Charlson's course ARTH 3340 Native North American Art.