Macedonian dolls
This 8 inch female doll made of stockinette over wire armature is wearing a folk costume from Macedonia, most likely from the Prilep region although it is a little hard to tell. Stand out features include the woven apron with the red wool fringe and the delicate metallic thread used to create a belt. A deal of braid,rickrack, metal sequins and sewing is used to replicate the beautiful Macedonian vests .
This doll is unusual because of the long black braid she has which is tied with red wool. The dolls in the Narodna Radinost range do not have long hair. All styles are closely braided to the head and this doll is only one of three I possess with a braid, the other two being Serbian female dolls.
The head covering is important in female folk dress and is commonly used to indicate marital status. The Narodna Radinost dolls can be found wearing a range of hats, scarves and veils. But what of the actual hair itself? In many Slavic countries the hair too was used to differentiate between single and married women. Often a single woman had a single braid which was rebraided as part of the marriage rituals. Wool extensions, silver coins and bouquets of flowers were also used in the hair as part of preparing for marriage.*
This doll is in very good condition. The Narodna Radinost dolls do not usually wear very bright white clothing but rather, as this doll does, have more natural undyed clothing in creams and ecru.
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