Sioux Doll

Sioux Doll, c.1890

This buckskin doll was brought to Vermont in 1893 by blacksmith Horatio Thomas, who allegedly forged the chains that bound Sitting Bull. Buckskin dolls like this one were often educational  for young girls from the plains. Girls would use them to imitate the actions of the adult women in the tribe, including cooking, caring for children, hunting, and making clothing. The dolls were both a plaything and an indication of the mother’s mastery of beadwork and sewing. While they held an importance to tribal youths, dolls such as these were also made to sell to tourists: benefitting the maker financially and allowing the buyer a glimpse into the Native American culture through the figure.