Summary

National doll produced to represent the Australia state Tasmania, it was made by Tasmanian Applefolk from Apples and Tasmanian wood, circa 1960s-1970s. It was purchased in the Huon Valley in Tasmania, and showcases two of Tasmaina's best-known products.

The Gates collection contains 170 national dolls from 74 different countries and some correspondence relating to the acquisition of several of the dolls. The costumes of the dolls represent national costumes from the 19th Century to the 1990s. Monica Gates collected or was given these dolls between 1957 and 1990.

These dolls were purchased as souvenirs of particular countries and like many mass produced souvenirs they are often not accurate representations of a particular country or region, and may actually better reflect neighbouring counties or regions. This occurs because costumes are often stylised and simplified resulting dolls wearing generic costume elements which are common to many countries/regions. Often the fabrics and decorations used are selected to make the dolls cheap and easy to manufacture and aesthetically pleasing. This can result in the fabrics, colours and decorations of the doll's clothing having little or no reflection of the costume associated with a particular country or region they are meant to be representative of.

Physical Description

Tasmanian apple doll made from pipe cleaners, wood, foam and a glazed apple for the head. The doll is standing on a wooden base and wearing a red, white and blue striped dress. In her left hand she is carrying a bouquet of red and white wire and fabric flowers.

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