Folk Costume Appraisal

Traditional Folk Costume Cloth Doll

This item is a cloth doll, likely handcrafted, designed to represent a figure wearing traditional folk attire. The doll features a light skin-toned fabric face with simple, painted features including delicate brown eyebrows, dark brown eyes with distinct lids, and reddish-brown lips. The hair appears to be made of dark brown or black braided threads, styled in what looks like a bun or coiled arrangement on the sides of the head. The doll is dressed in a multi-layered costume. The innermost layer visible is a cream or off-white blouse with intricate red and black geometric embroidery down the front and on the cuffs of the sleeves. Over this, a beige or light tan jacket or vest, possibly made of woven fabric like linen or cotton, is worn open. Below the short jacket, a wide black band cinches the waist, followed by a full black skirt made of a semi-sheer fabric, possibly chiffon or fine gauze. The hem of the black skirt is adorned with an embroidered border of interconnected, light brown or copper-colored diamond shapes. Beneath the black skirt, another layer of clothing or undergarment is visible, which also features the same red and black geometric embroidery seen on the blouse and jacket sleeves, suggesting a coordinated ensemble. The doll's construction appears to be soft-bodied, consistent with textile dolls. There are no obvious manufacturer's marks or signatures visible. The overall aesthetic suggests it could be a souvenir doll from an Eastern European or Balkan region, given the embroidery patterns that often are indicative of such folk costumes. The doll is held in a person's hand, providing a rough scale, indicating it is likely a mid-sized collectible. The condition appears to be relatively good with no significant visible damage, although some slight discoloration or wear might be present on the fabric due to age or handling.