DOLL, Maori girl

Brown plastic doll with black hair meant to represent a New Zealand Maori, dressed in an imitation of Maori dress. The face is the same as an Anglo-Saxon / Caucasian doll, dark brown. Sent to Meredith from New Zealand by Nan Wallwork's goddaughter, Peta Cass. The hemp and cotton hessian with black cotton threads represents the flax cape which is woven flax with thrums of flax cord inserted during the weaving. The straw coloured skirt is painted with black stripes in imitation of the flax skirt, (piupiu), which is made of flax, the surface being stripped with a mussel shell to make a pattern, then soaked in volcanic mud. The headband imitates the taaniko weave headband. (Information on Maori dress is from Moya Smith, Anthropology Dept WAM, who has recently done an exhibition of maori costume from the collection.) "Made in / Hong Kong" Meredith's doll. From a collection of toys used by Helen's children who were all born at Woodside Hospital in Dalgety St, East Fremantle. Meredith Jane, born 5 March 1968. Timothy Lewis and his twin brother, Jeremy Francis, born 5 July 1971.

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History Collection

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