Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2023.012.014 |
Object Name |
Doll |
Description |
This soft sculpture was handmade by Reverend Jimmy Morrow in Cocke County, Tennessee. It represents the kinds of venomous serpents that the Reverend handled as part of his signs following religious practices. However, it should be noted that, oftentimes, Rev. Morrow handled copperheads, not rattlesnakes. Dr. Ralph Hood, a religious psychology scholar and friend of Jimmy Morrow, recalls: "He kept serpents…he could keep them in habitats on his property, and then just go there and get one…a lot of herpetologists were interested in him because of his extreme observational knowledge of serpents. There's probably nobody who knows more in that sense about serpents, and it's like…somebody who gets in touch with animals in a way that gives you a radically different perspective." The rattlesnake doll is handsewn, stuffed, and handpainted yellow, matching many of the serpents in Reverend Morrow's paintings. The dried paint has caused a hardened texture that makes the doll feel brittle and sturdy. The serpent features distinct black markings and a white underbelly. The serpent's rattle is carved/notched wood that is painted black to match the serpent's markings. |
Artist |
Rev. Jimmy Morrow |
Dimensions |
H-8 W-13.5 D-11.25 inches |
Place of Origin |
USA/Tennessee/Cocke County/Del Rio |
Material |
fabric, paint, stuffing, wood |
Subjects |
sacred Appalachia folk art |
Other Name |
Soft Sculpture |
Search Terms |
sacred Appalachia folk art |