The Handless Maiden

Mixed Media Assemblage Art Doll

SOLD

24″H x 16″W x 16″D

"A poor bargain is made
when you don't know your worth,
And you give away more than you were given at birth.

And this bargain takes root before you give it much thought;
till you cringe with remorse when you see what you've bought.

But from the wound grows a knowing that is part of the plan.
Although while you endure it you may not understand
that in a bargain with darkness lies a glimmer of light,
for the wound is the price paid
for a new kind of sight."

In making this artdoll piece I was inspired to revisit one of my favorite tales The Handless Maiden.

The folk tale has ancient roots and was collected by the Brothers Grimm in 1812. It’s a popular source of interpretation about the human condition by Jungian psychologists.

The maiden in the story is violently robbed of her hands by her own father who is in leagues with the devil. Forced to fend for herself, she searches for a way to heal her wounds.

I’ve been so inspired by the tale of The Handless Maiden, that I have made two additional pieces exploring her story including another doll titled The Handless Maiden and a Story Box assemblage.