Cotton and ceramic doll, 'Karen Belle'

Poised in colorful elegance, this doll models the legendary costume of the Karen hill tribe people. Suwit Suthamtha faithfully recreates her traditional attire, which is sewn of cotton. The doll's head and limbs of are crafted of ceramic over a wire body and kapok seeds filling. The jewelry is made of aluminum. The Karen are renowned for their colorful weaves, which distinguish each subgroup within the Karen population of Thailand and Burma. Hospitable out of caution, the Karen believe that if a family does not offer hospitality to a visitor, he in turn will be angered and might set a curse on the family or steal a family member's soul. The Karen are renowned for their weaving skills and dress code, for single women are expected to dress with loose v-neck blouses whereas married women are allowed colorful skirts and blouses, usually in red and blue.