DOLL

Description: 1-2. BOX. RED AND WHITE STRIPED CARDBOARD BOX WITH DETACHABLE CLEAR PLASTIC LID. BASE OF BOX HAS STAMP WITH MANUFACTURER INFORMATION AND "MADE IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA 24 XL 1971". HANDWRITTEN IN INK IS DONOR'S NAME, ADDRESS, AND PHONE NUMBER. SEVERAL PIECES OF ADHESIVE TAPE ON BOX. LID HAS RED TRIANGULAR LOGO IN LOWER RIGHT CORNER WITH "LIDOVA TVORBA UH. BROD" AND PICTURE OF WOMAN PLASTIC TAPED IN SEVERAL PLACES, AND CRACKED AT CORNERS. 3. MALE DOLL. 8CM (H) X 31.5CM (L) X 11.6CM (W). PLASTIC DOLL WITH PAINTED EYES AND LIPS. CLOTHED IN BLACK FELT HAT, WHITE COTTON LONG-SLEEVED SHIRT, BURGUNDY VEST TRIMMED WITH YELLOW AND GREEN EMBROIDERY, WHITE FELT PANTS WITH BLUE EMBROIDERY AT WAIST, WHITE FELT BOOTS TRIMMED IN RED, AND BROWN FELT BELT. LOOPED IN BELT IS WOODEN AXE WITH GREY PAINTED HEAD. 4. FEMALE DOLL. 8CM (H) X 29.8CM (L) X 12.8CM (W). PLASTIC DOLL WITH PAINTED EYES AND LIPS. CLOTHED IN RED COTTON HEAD SCARF, WHITE PUFFED-SLEEVE BLOUSE, RED VEST WITH FLORAL BROOCH, WHITE SKIRT, BELT, LEOTARDS, AND FELT SHOES; AND BLUE HALF-APRON.

History: AXE CALLED A "BALASKA"; WAS THE TRADEMARK OF THE MALE DOLL. REPRESENTS THE ROBIN HOOD DURING SERFDOM -- AS A BOY HE WAS A FREEDOM-FIGHTER AND TRIED TO CORRECT INJUSTICES BY AMBUSHING THE RICH AND REDISTRIBUTING TO THE POOR. CONSIDERED A TRUE STORY. DONOR ACQUIRED DOLLS IN 1972 DURING A 6-WEEK TRIP TO VISIT RELATIVES IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA (TODAY SLOVAKIA). DOLLS WERE A GIFT FROM RELATIVES FOR GRATITUDE FOR THEIR VISIT. DONORS BROUGHT DOLLS HOME TO COLEMAN WHERE THEY LIVED UNTIL MOVING TO LETHBRIDGE IN 1985. DONOR IS OF SLOVAKIAN DESCENT. BORN THERE IN 1926; IMMIGRATED TO CANADA TWO YEARS LATER WITH MOTHER. FAMILY SETTLED IN THE PASS AND JOINED DONOR'S FATHER, WHO WORKED IN THE MINES.