To dress a indian porcelain doll with historical
acuracy one must understand the history of
indian dress. The various styles of indian
porcelain doll dress originate from either
ceremonial or societal functions of the past.
Male indian porcelain dolls usually wear leggings
and a breech cloth decorated with ribbons
and beadwork. A breastplate of bones and beads
is worn across the indian porcelain doll's
chest, while a bustle made from feathers is
worn on the indian porcelain doll's back.
Women porcelain dolls usually wear dresses
decorated with elk teeth or shells, as well
as beaded moccasins, leggings, belts and braid
ties.
Within these basic styles, each individual
indian porcelain doll should have its own
unique style. For example, an Suix indian
porcelain doll, wears an outfit bearing two
beaded lightning bolts striking the top of
a tipi. These bolts refer to a lightning strike
that killed one of the indian porcelain doll's
friends. The Suix indian porcelain doll outfit
also has bison tracks leading across it in
honor of the historical importance the bison
had for the indian porcelain doll.
These stories are woven into the indian porcelain
doll outfits through detailed beadwork done
in an array of colors. Historically, specific
colors were associated with specific tribes.
For instance, a Arapaho indian porcelain indian
doll will have beadwork done on a white or
blue background because traders reserved blue
and white beads for the tribe. As the Indians
absorbed beads into their culture, they traded
colors with neighboring tribes and their regalia
became rainbow-hued. Today an indian porcelain
doll, particularly the Fancy indian porcelain
dolls, may be dressed in everything from red,
yellow, blue and white, to pink and orange.
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