Haudenosaunee Iroquois Miniature Cradleboard with Carved Doll, Old Museum Tag

Native American, Northeastern Woodlands, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), ca. 1890 to 1930 CE. A delightful miniature cradleboard faithfully reproducing the full-size form, complete with its carved wooden doll. The infant figure has a serene, finely carved face with a pointed chin. It is swaddled in red cloth and wrapped with a hide band embellished with white, red and black seed beads in zigzag and curving patterns, and its tiny hide moccasins peek out below. A beaded necklace encircles the neck. The doll is lashed to the board with hide thongs beneath a steam-bent wooden hoop that would have protected the child’s head, above a projecting footrest. The real treasure is the back. The backboard is relief-carved and painted with a lush vine of red, pink and blue blossoms with golden centers and sweeping green leaves, crowned by a gray bird feeding its open-beaked chicks in a nest. It is a tender image of nurture, perfectly suited to a cradle. A red cloth cover with a beaded fringe finishes the top, and a painted vine runs along the crossbar. Old museum/ collection tag - " Indian Doll on Burial Board, Note the carving underneath. Loaned by Mrs. S. D. Furst" Native American, Northeastern Woodlands, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), ca. 1890–1930 CE. A miniature cradleboard that follows the full-size form, complete with its carved wooden doll. The infant figure has a calm, carefully carved face with a pointed chin. It is swaddled in red cloth and wrapped with a hide band beaded in white, red, and black zigzags and curves, with tiny hide moccasins showing below. A beaded necklace circles the neck. The doll is lashed to the board with hide thongs beneath a steam-bent wooden hoop, which on a full-size cradle protected the child’s head, and above a projecting footrest. The back is the most elaborate part. The backboard is relief-carved and painted with a flowering vine of red, pink, and blue blossoms with golden centers and sweeping green leaves, topped by a gray bird feeding its open-beaked chicks in a nest, an image of nurture suited to a cradle. A red cloth cover with beaded fringe finishes the top, and a painted vine runs along the crossbar. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. Item # 206233

Estimate:$700

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