A rare, antique Apache warrior doll - Lot 84

A rare, antique Apache warrior doll White Mountain or San Carlos, Western Apache, Arizona Leather, fabric, beads, metal First third of the 20th century Height: 32.5 cm Ex collection André Schoeller (1929-2015), Paris Ex J.J. Mathias, Baron Ribeyre & Associés, E. Farrando, Drouot Paris, "Collection André Schoeller" December 22, 2014, lot 264 Ex private collection, acquired above Expert: Mr Julien FLAK julien@galerieflak.com From the shores of the Arctic to the border with Mexico in the southwestern United States, Native American populations have been creating and using dolls since time immemorial. Whether as tools of transmission and pedagogy, children's toys or souvenirs for travelers passing through, dolls are a moving testimony to cultural practices and traditional ornaments now all but forgotten. This highly ornate doll wears a costume consisting of a fringed jacket embellished with red fabric, multicolored beading, a beautiful belt featuring stylized shells (concha belt), boots with curved tips and a bag adorned with metal cones. The style is characteristic of the Western Apache groups established in Arizona in the southwestern United States. A famous photo by Ben Wittick (1845-1903) in the Denver Public Library (Western History / Genealogy Department) shows two Apache warriors wearing this type of costume (fringed studded jacket, curved boots, cloth loincloth, concha belt).