Description
The story of dolls such as this these begins around 1913 when Mary McAboy of Missoula, Mont., and later of Denver, designed a doll modeled on the appearance of Chinook Indians. These came to be known as Skookum dolls. “Skookum” is a word in the Chinook/Siwash language that means “excellent.” These dolls sold primarily at tourist spots, representing various tribes and customs. A distinctive feature is that the dolls always look to the side, typically to the right, as seen in the image. They commonly have composition or plastic mask faces; a body made of wood or composition and are wrapped in a wool blanket. These dolls are highly collectible.
