Pottery Human Figurine of Yuma Origin [SOLD]

25712-yuma-doll.jpg

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Potter Once Known
  • Category: Figurines
  • Origin: Yuma Indians
  • Medium: clay, pigment, hair, hide
  • Size: 10-1/2” tall
  • Item # 25712
  • SOLD

Mojave dolls are well known by museum curators and collectors primarily because of the major collection of Mojave pottery left to the School of Advanced Research, Santa Fe, by ceramists and collector Rick Dillingham of Santa Fe.  His collection of Mojave pottery, including a large quantity of pottery human figurines is documented in the book Mojave Pottery, Mojave People: The Dillingham Collection of Mojave Ceramics, published in 2001.

 

Less known are similar pottery dolls made by the Yuma Native Americans.  The Mojave share a cultural heritage with the Yuman people.  The major Yuman groups are the Walapai, Havasupai, and Yavapai Nations in Arizona and the Diegueño, Kamia, Paipai, and Kiliwa of California.

 

Pottery doll figurines were not an archaeologically produced item of the Yuma. None have been discovered in village excavations.  It is likely that this form was adopted from the Mojave when the Yuma potters found that they were being outsold by the Mojave.  It is likely that they were made for commercial reasons.  Even so, they are relatively rare as there seem to be hundreds of Mojave dolls for every dozen Yuma dolls. Most Yuma pottery dolls probably date from early 20th century.

 

Condition: very good condition

Reference and Recommended ReadingYuman Pottery Making by Malcolm J. Rogers.  San Diego Museum Papers, Number 2, February 1936.

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Florida

Potter Once Known
  • Category: Figurines
  • Origin: Yuma Indians
  • Medium: clay, pigment, hair, hide
  • Size: 10-1/2” tall
  • Item # 25712
  • SOLD

25712-yuma-doll.jpg25712-large.jpg Click on image to view larger.