GIRL IN A COCOON, SKELETON by artist Francesca Loi

Mixed media OOAK art doll: air dry clay, hand dyed fabric, mother of pearl button, gold leaf, fabric flowers, wire. The body (not posable) is made of white, needle-felted Corriedale Top, over a wire armature (to give her the right shape), wrapped in a cotton fabric naturally hand dyed by me with leaves and iron water. Vintage lace fabric scraps stained with acrylic paint are hand-sewn on top. Head, hands, and feet are sculpted in air dry clay. 

Her hair is made of Snake Tree natural fibres. She is painted with chalks and acrylics. Gold leaves cover her neck, hands and Mary Jane inspired shoes, all sealed with a matte varnish. Completely hand sewn.

Her Cocoon is made manipulating and hand-sewing strips of cheesecloth natural fabric over a wire armature. She sits on a cushion made of Japanese kimono fabric.

A 90 cm/35 inches plated real leather string is included for hanging.

Her Cocoon is made manipulating and hand-sewing strips of block hand printed Indian fabric over a wire armature. She sits on a cushion made of Japanese kimono fabric.

A 90 cm/35 inches plated real leather string is included for hanging.

DOLL: around 30 cm/12 inches tall

COCOON: around 38x13 cm/15x5 inches

DOLL+COCOON: 46 cm/18 inches tall

This doll is part of a pair: a human and her skeleton “reflection” counterpart. Shown in the last image with her partner. Sold separately.

What do I see in my own reflections? What do others see in theirs?

When in front of a mirror the current self – what I am now – is standing between two mirrored versions of the same: what I was, and what I will be.

“As I sit with my thoughts, I am enveloped by a soft, dark cocoon.”