Macedonian Dolls

Pictured here are two 12" cloth over wire armature dolls from Macedonia. The female doll wears a costume from Skopska Crna Gora  which is close to the capital Skopje.

The most distinctive feature is the black tape on the chemise used to represent the traditional woollen embroidery. The tape on this doll is hand sewn and some lovely threading has been incorporated onto the sleeves. She is wearing a wonderful gold necklace which matches the gold thread trim on her vest and that worked into her apron.

Her face is particularly nice with some lovely eyelash detail and rouged cheeks.
The elaborate head scarf  worn by the single woman in the traditional Skopska Crna Gora dress is here simply reproduced with decorative trim and thread flowers and the red coral beads often found on Narodna Radinost dolls. The brightly coloured apron features a wonderful woven fabric and the legs are wrapped with red,black and yellow thread to complement the leather shoes. Not visible are her petticoat and bloomers which all the female dolls of the range wear. Hers are plain cotton but on other dolls they can have the addition of a lace trim.

The male doll I believe is wearing a folk costume from Galicnik. He has a brown woollen felt vest with silver braiding and tiny green beads down his shirt front. His trousers are cream felt with black cord detail and he has a matching cream felt skull cap. The red striped sash at his waist gives some colour and his shoes are brown leather with white bindings.