GUEST
This doll I found about ten years ago at a local thrift store. She was in a plastic bag with this note attached with it. And I thought that she was really beautiful. I don't collect Native American art, but I could tell that she was old and just had that feeling, you know. So I picked her up.
APPRAISER
You transcribed the note that was with her.
GUEST
Right.
APPRAISER
Can you read me what that note says?
GUEST
Sure. It says, "Indian doll. It was made by the Indian chief squaw on the Brul Indian reservation at Iroquois, South Dakota, "for Mrs. Rose Huey, wife of Dr. Isaac Huey, "who took care of the Indians on the reservation about the year 1885. "Mrs. Huey was sitting in a swing with her arms outstretched, and that is why the doll is made that way."
APPRAISER
Well, it's a charming note.
GUEST
It is, yeah.
APPRAISER
It's wonderful. Not all accurate.
GUEST
Okay.
APPRAISER
But for the most part, it is. This is a Brul Sioux, Sioux doll. And the Brul Sioux were a branch of the Sioux tribe that kind of went back and forth from Nebraska and into the Dakotas. They had traits of the Southern Plains and the more Northern tribes. This doll appears to be a high status woman. The soles of her moccasins are beaded, and with a cross in the center. That's unusual.
GUEST
Oh.
APPRAISER
The head's somewhat unusual. Usually, they have lots of hair on them. This doesn't. It's a good thing. There's no bugs. The thing is completely clean. It looks fresh. The beadwork on the yoke across the top is typical Brul designs and beautifully done. She's got an underskirt made out of period cloth that's like new.
GUEST
Oh.
APPRAISER
So someone put this thing away and just left it and didn't touch it. It's in magnificent condition. It was made in the 1880s.
GUEST
Okay.
APPRAISER
Probably the earlier 1880s, as opposed to 1885. It's probably slightly earlier than that. The part about the arms being straight out, it's the charming part of the letter. It's not true. All of these dolls have their arms like that.
GUEST
Do they, okay.
APPRAISER
Because the yoke is stiff, and it holds the arms out straight. The whole doll is sewn with sinews on deer skin. And you paid what for this?
GUEST
I paid $15 for her.
APPRAISER
I think you're okay. If this doll came up at an auction today, dolls are highly collectible, especially good Indian dolls, and especially with the letter. The note is great information that really nails it down. I think you're talking $3,500 to $4,500 if the doll came up at auction.
GUEST
Really?
APPRAISER
It's a great thing, yes.
GUEST
See that. Wow. I was thinking maybe a couple of hundred.
APPRAISER
No.
GUEST
That's amazing. (laughing) Honestly, that's amazing.
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