Appalachian Kentucky Poppet Doll, Hand-Carved Buckeye, Early 1900s
This treasure came with a note attached that reads:
"Poppet Doll - From Kentucky Mountains
Poppet, a primitive homemade doll, whittled out by the mother with a jacknife from the wood of buckeye trees. This is a fine-grained wood of pale color. Rosy cheeks are added by rubbing the face with the juice of cohosh or poke berries. Hair is provided from the skins of small wild animals, such as squirrels or moles or the wool of domestic sheep. Occasionally a bit of bear skin would be considered more realistic on the men poppets. The dolls are dressed in homespun or such materials as may be found in the mountain stores. It took about ten hrs to carve & dress as doll that sold for $1.00 and when the Wage & Hr. Law was passed in 1938 the sale of these dolls was no longer permitted as they did not comply with the restrictions of the Law. It is an example of the hardship which a law, beneficial to many, may work upon the few."
Research indicates these dolls were created by women in their homes who often sold them through various mission schools of rural Kentucky mountain areas. A thesis, "Kentucky Appalachian Arts & Crafts", submitted to Morehead State University in 1978 by Janie Griffith, offers additional very specific information about Poppets, pinpointing the origins of some specifically to Perry County, Kentucky. See our photos for a copy of her research.
The example we have for sale measures 9" tall. Her whittled wooden head is finished with hand-painted features and her hair may be of squirrel. Through the calico dress, it feels like the carved portion of the torso extends to the hips. She is dressed in a blue calico cotton dress with a petticoat underneath, all hand stitched.
This treasure came with a note attached that reads:
"Poppet Doll - From Kentucky Mountains
Poppet, a primitive homemade doll, whittled out by the mother with a jacknife from the wood of buckeye trees. This is a fine-grained wood of pale color. Rosy cheeks are added by rubbing the face with the juice of cohosh or poke berries. Hair is provided from the skins of small wild animals, such as squirrels or moles or the wool of domestic sheep. Occasionally a bit of bear skin would be considered more realistic on the men poppets. The dolls are dressed in homespun or such materials as may be found in the mountain stores. It took about ten hrs to carve & dress as doll that sold for $1.00 and when the Wage & Hr. Law was passed in 1938 the sale of these dolls was no longer permitted as they did not comply with the restrictions of the Law. It is an example of the hardship which a law, beneficial to many, may work upon the few."
Research indicates these dolls were created by women in their homes who often sold them through various mission schools of rural Kentucky mountain areas. A thesis, "Kentucky Appalachian Arts & Crafts", submitted to Morehead State University in 1978 by Janie Griffith, offers additional very specific information about Poppets, pinpointing the origins of some specifically to Perry County, Kentucky. See our photos for a copy of her research.
The example we have for sale measures 9" tall. Her whittled wooden head is finished with hand-painted features and her hair may be of squirrel. Through the calico dress, it feels like the carved portion of the torso extends to the hips. She is dressed in a blue calico cotton dress with a petticoat underneath, all hand stitched.
This treasure came with a note attached that reads:
"Poppet Doll - From Kentucky Mountains
Poppet, a primitive homemade doll, whittled out by the mother with a jacknife from the wood of buckeye trees. This is a fine-grained wood of pale color. Rosy cheeks are added by rubbing the face with the juice of cohosh or poke berries. Hair is provided from the skins of small wild animals, such as squirrels or moles or the wool of domestic sheep. Occasionally a bit of bear skin would be considered more realistic on the men poppets. The dolls are dressed in homespun or such materials as may be found in the mountain stores. It took about ten hrs to carve & dress as doll that sold for $1.00 and when the Wage & Hr. Law was passed in 1938 the sale of these dolls was no longer permitted as they did not comply with the restrictions of the Law. It is an example of the hardship which a law, beneficial to many, may work upon the few."
Research indicates these dolls were created by women in their homes who often sold them through various mission schools of rural Kentucky mountain areas. A thesis, "Kentucky Appalachian Arts & Crafts", submitted to Morehead State University in 1978 by Janie Griffith, offers additional very specific information about Poppets, pinpointing the origins of some specifically to Perry County, Kentucky. See our photos for a copy of her research.
The example we have for sale measures 9" tall. Her whittled wooden head is finished with hand-painted features and her hair may be of squirrel. Through the calico dress, it feels like the carved portion of the torso extends to the hips. She is dressed in a blue calico cotton dress with a petticoat underneath, all hand stitched.