These are examples of men's ceremonial clothing worn by Indians of the Western Prairie about the 1850 time period. This is the area west of Chicago, Illinois USA.
I took these photographs of the displays that were at the Field Museum in Chicago, USA in May 2002.
The first photo shows men's ceremonial clothing from 2 tribes. Looking at the photo, on the left is Pawnee Man, and to the right is Mandam Man.
If you are going to make clothing for dolls, try to match the details for as much authenticity as possible. I have included large images on this page to help you in your projects.
Suede cloth can be used to replicate leather, and pieces of down used for feathers.
The doll mannequins modeling the clothing looked to be made from a firmly stuffed cotton and approximately life size.
The next photo shows examples of men’s ceremonial clothing of Arikara Man to the left, and Pawnee Man to the right.
More from Field Museum:
Seminole Indian Wooden Doll and Clothing
Love and Fertility Medicine Dolls of the Potawatomi and Winnebago Indians
Clothing of Montagnais and Naskapi Indians of the Northern Woodlands
Charity Note:
I'd like to suggest that if you spend time making doll clothes, anyway, that you collect a few dolls from friends and neighbors and sew a wardrobe or a complete outfit for each doll. Then donate the doll in the completed outfit to a charity that distributes used dolls and toys to kids that otherwise would not have any.
Article and photography Susan Kramer
