North America, United States, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A pair of dolls known as a Skookum, both constructed with a wooden frame covered with cotton cloth stuffed with straw and a wood pulp / papier-mache head complete with wool braids, a colorful felt shawls. A matching couple, and the woman has a baby's head poking out over her shoulder. Size: 4" W x 15" H (10.2 cm x 38.1 cm)

Mary McAboy (1876 to 1961) was an American dollmaker of European descent who began her career hand carving apple head dolls but soon switched to a composite material of wood pulp and flour. The Skookum name comes from Chinook slang for strong or mighty, and the company slogan was "Bully Good." The dolls were patented by McAboy in 1913 and produced by H.H. Tammen Company. Dolls made after 1940 were plastic- this is an earlier example likely made around 1913 to 1918, indicated by the composition: papier-mache and wood pulp head, human hair, and leather moccasins. The later mid-20th century dolls were plastic or had composition feet and mohair wigs. The costumes were loosely styled after Plains and Southwestern tribes such as Pueblo and Sioux- the heishi shell necklace indicates a Southwestern Native person. McAboy oversaw the production of these dolls and was the head of Skookum assembly, until her retirement in 1952.

Provenance: private Reinsmoen collection, Clear Lake, Iowa, USA, acquired through descent from Robert Anderson, acquired prior to 2000

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#185451

Chips and losses to the wood legs and feet on the woman. Staining and discoloration to cloth. Baby' head is slightly tearing away from the mother's body - remains of glue adhesive on their hair where they were once secured. Good conditions overall.