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HISTORY / MATERIALS Arctic Traveler's Gift Shop 201 Cushman St. Fairbanks, AK. 99701 Phone: (907) 456-7080 Email: info@arctictravelersgiftshop.com
WE WRAP, PACK, AND SHIP!
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DOLLS AND FIGURINES Dolls: Yupik and Inupiat Eskimos have practiced the art of doll making for at least 2,000 years. Medicine men used the dolls as charms. They were a common part of ritual and ceremonies from prehistoric times to the present. Dolls were probably not used as toys. Present day dolls are made as art objects for sale. Dolls show the cultural style and tradition of the area where they are made. The artistic style of the individual doll maker is special and almost always recognizable. Doll bodies are made of wood, reindeer antler and cloth covered wire. Faces may be made of skin, wood, ivory, sometimes carved, sometimes painted. Doll clothing is made of furs, cloth, felt and black and white cowhide trim to represent clothing styles if the area. Materials come mostly from the local subsistence lifestyle, although commercial materials are used to some extent. Doll making is primarily an art of Eskimo women, however, some men help with the carving faces and bodies. Eskimo doll makers take great pride in their craftsmanship and accuracy of clothing styles. Back to Art Information page Back to Dolls
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