A Brief History of the old fashioned Doll
Dolls are representations of people, often a children’s toy. Traditionally, dolls are used for voodoo and religious rituals throughout the planet. Dolls are documented to exist as far back as ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. During the time, these were crudely made as simple things to play with. Today, with materials like plastic and porcelain, dolls are finer and more detailed. They are now mass produced and still made as children’s toys and collectibles.
The earliest dolls were made of wood, stone, clay and other crude materials. Wooden dolls were found in ancient Egyptian tombs. In ancient Greece, dolls were made of clay. The ancient Romans used both wood and clay. Kids from richer families would have ivory dolls which, like today, they dress according to the latest ancient Roman fashion.
In Africa, dolls were used for teaching and entertainment. These dolls were also twisted and turned for rituals. Each doll’s look would vary according to custom. Fertility dolls, believed to possess special powers, were often handed down from mother to daughter.
Early dolls from Japan, made of straw and wood, were dressed in elaborate
doll clothes
. They are used as toys and for religious purposes. These dolls are also believed to give some sort of protection. There is even a doll festival called Hinamatsuri which is still celebrated to this day.
The modern doll got its roots from the industrial era. This was also when dolls started to look finer and more detailed. The heads were usually made of porcelain and the bodies consisted of wood, leather or cloth. Sometimes a mixture of sawdust, pulp and glue were used for the bodies.
Doll clothes
were also rampant at this time.
It wasn’t until the twentieth century when plastic and polymer was used. These materials are used in most dolls available in the market today. Along with
doll clothes
, these new fashion dolls are a huge part of the toy market. Although, there are still specialty doll makers who still make old fashioned porcelain head dolls, it is the mass produced plastic and polymer dolls that rule the market. The old fashioned dolls turn into collectibles rather than toys and they come quite expensive.
80 Year Old Doll
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The Doll People (Compact Disc) $20.6 The 100-year-old Doll family—beautifully crafted china dolls passed down through four generations of girls in one American family—meet their new neighbors, the Funcrafts, a doll family made completely of plastic and delivered straight fr… |