Payback Doll Item Number: 3270/2 a-c from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Carved male figure. Doll (part a) stands on large feet, legs spread, arms slightly akimbo and held away from the body. Legs are painted white, torso black, and face red. A black fuzzy beard surrounds the chin, mouth is open with small inset shell for teeth, eyes are made of the same shell, as is a headband tied around the forehead. A necklace of tubular sections of grass hangs down the chest, and arms have woven plant fibre sleeves. A bag of netting and plant fibre is slung over the left shoulder and adhered to the wood at the handle. A loin cloth of netting with long pieces of grass at back sits around the waist. Part b is a peice of netting similar to that of the loin cloth. Part c is a small feather grouping that attaches by a hole in the doll's head.

History Of Use

Created as an effigy of a deceased family member, payback dolls were used as a reminder that payback, or revenge for their death, was still outstanding.