Dinka Fertility Doll with Beads Central Africa

Overall Condition: Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.   Small splits, scrapes and cracks are a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use.  We examine each piece carefully when we receive it and report any damage we find in our listings.  Please look carefully at the pictures which may also reveal condition and damage.

Damage/Repair:

This doll comes from Central Africe. Dolls such as these are found among the Dinka and their neighbors such as the Omdurman peoples (see Esther A. Dagan, AFRICAN DOLLS, fig.74 p. 141) and the Baggara (see E. Cameron, Isn't s/he a doll, fig. 98. ). In these cultures dolls are representations of women dressed in traditional costumes.Women among these societies are usually adorned with beaded jewelry including necklace, earrings, anklets, armlets, amulets, rings so forth, as seen on this doll. Islamic influences can be seen in the use of amulets on the doll. The uses and functions of these dolls are not known.