Pueblo Style Story Teller Dolls By Teissedre – Pair of 2

ca. 1986

(A) 1.5″ H x 2.625″ L x 2″ W (B) 2.5″ H x 2″ L x 1.5″ W

Hand Crafted (A) Turtle with 4 Kids (B) Figure with 6 Kids Signed Teissedre TR & MH

In Good Condition (A) Turtle has Chips Along Rim Base (B) Leg Broken Glued

Cleo Teissedre became well-known in the 1980s and 1990s for her whimsical, hand-sculpted and hand-painted clay versions. She produced hundreds of these delightful miniatures and mid-sized figurines, often signed “Teissedre” with a copyright year (e.g., 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990). They feature warm earth tones, detailed facial expressions, traditional clothing patterns, and lots of tiny, adorable children (from 3 to as many as 16 in some elaborate pieces!).

Story Teller Doll by Teissedre is a charming handmade pottery figurines created by artist Cleo Teissedre (19302020), a self-taught ceramic artist from Tucson, Arizona. These are not traditional soft dolls but collectible Native American-inspired storyteller figures (often called “Storyteller Dolls” or “Story Teller Pottery”).

These pieces draw from Southwestern Native American (particularly Pueblo and Navajo/Hopi-influenced) traditions, where a central adult figureusually a grandparent, mother, or fathersits surrounded by numerous small children clinging to their lap, arms, shoulders, and legs, eagerly “listening” to stories. The design symbolizes the oral tradition of passing down cultural tales, wisdom, and history to the next generation.