Dolls history

A doll is a child's toy that represents a baby or other human being, but includes likenesses of animals and imaginary creatures. Dolls have been around since the dawn of human civilization, and have been fashioned from a vast array of materials, ranging from stone, clay, wood, bone, cloth and paper, to porcelain, china, rubber and plastic.

antique doll

Nostalgic value

While dolls have traditionally been toys for children, they are also collected by adults, for their nostalgic value, beauty, historical importance or financial value. In ancient times, dolls were used as representations of a deity, and played a central role in religious ceremonies and rituals. Lifelike or anatomically correct dolls are used by health professionals, medical schools and social workers to train doctors and nurses in various health procedures or investigate cases of sexual abuse of children. Artists sometimes use jointed wooden mannequins in drawing the human figure. Action figures representing superheroes and their predecessors, action dolls, are particularly popular among boys. Baby dolls, paper dolls, talking dolls, fashion dolls - the list is almost endless.

2000 BC

Archaeological evidence places dolls as foremost candidate for oldest known toy, having been found in Egyptian tombs which date to as early as 2000 BC. In Egypt, as well as Greece and Rome, it was common to find them in the graves of children. Most were made of wood, although pottery dolls were buried with children from wealthier families. Dolls with movable limbs and removable clothing date back to 600 BCE.

Europe later became the center of dollmaking. In the United States, dollmaking became an industry in the 1860s, after the Civil War. The development of plastics after World War II led to the manufacture of new types of dolls and brought down their price.

Dolls have featured in modern art and fine art photography, notably in surrealist works. The "evil doll" has been a feature of horror literature, horror films and animation since the 1950s.

In Japan and South Korea, fashion doll collecting is on the rise, and even popular among adults. In Jesup Iowa, a doll Factory is in construction in Jacob's House, Main Street Iowa.





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DOLLS HOUSE CABINETS
£1,000,000.00
Jul-05 17:02:23
micheal jackson singing doll unopened
£1,000.00
Jul-07 22:37:37
Dolls House Emporium Wentworth Court
£750.00
Jul-08 13:16:08
Georgian Dolls House, Furnished
£750.00
Jul-25 14:15:46
£750.00
SEXY SE OOAK PIN UP doll GODDESS DREAMS SCULPTURE
£580.40
Jul-11 16:54:07
£580.40
*** DOLL HOUSE - Victorian Style - handmade***
£599.99
Jul-11 19:04:25
£599.99
DOLLS HOUSE GEORGIAN 13 ROOM VERY IMPRESSIVE
£500.00
Jul-05 19:22:30
£500.00
Large Dolls House
£450.00
Jul-09 15:00:48
Empress Josephine Barbie Doll
£450.00
Aug-02 17:19:57
£450.00
Dolls show house
£450.00
Jul-06 15:52:40
£450.00
RARE Armand Marseille #400 German Character Doll
£424.61
Jul-05 19:14:40
£424.61
doll house
£400.00
Jul-05 21:59:28
very large dolls house hand made
£400.00
Jul-22 11:28:55
£400.00
Michael Jackson 1995 Doll
£400.00
Jul-11 14:26:02
CARL BERGNER 3 FACED DOLL
£360.00 (15)
Jul-05 17:57:05
HTF 4th Edition Pale Haired Pippa Doll MIB
£350.00
Jul-05 21:30:20
£350.00
BARBIE "ERTE STARDUST" DOLL~PORCELAIN FIRST EDITION
£320.75
Jul-06 17:30:51
£320.75



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