Mojave Clay Doll Figurine by Annie Fields [SOLD]

It is relatively rare to find Mojave pottery dolls by Annie Fields, certainly one of the most famous Mojave potters. Partly responsible for the rarity of these is that the late Rick Dillingham of Santa Fe—author of two books, Acoma & Laguna Pottery and Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery—was an avid collector of such pieces and donated his large collection to the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe, which published a book on his collection.

Annie Fields (1884-1971) was a member of the southern Colorado River Indian Tribe in California.  She created most of her figurines in the 1950s while working in Needles, California.  Most of her dolls are still in very good condition because they were made late in her career.  The beaded collar that covers her breasts and most of her arms and the beaded neck band and earrings are generally in excellent condition as is the fabric clothing.

Her females have bulging eyes outlined in black and with black pupils.  The forehead is traditionally painted brown with facial tattoos below the eyes and two brown painted triangles extending down from the mouth.  The face shows features that are charming and maybe startled.

Condition: this Mojave Clay Doll Figurine by Annie Fields is in excellent, original condition

Provenance: from the collection of Chuck and Jan Rosenak, collectors of Native American art and authors of books on Navajo folk art.

Recommended Reading: 

Mojave Pottery, Mojave People: The Dillingham Collection of Mojave Ceramics by Furst and Furst.

Rick Dillingham author of two books, Acoma & Laguna Pottery and Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery

Relative Links: Mojave, pottery, Pottery Figures, Annie Fields