All About - History - Hitler Versus Stain

Through History
DOLLS
From the ritualistic to the realistically creepy, dolls
have been a part of our lives for thousands of years
52
The bisque doll
was similar to the
porcelain doll,
except the finish
was matte and
more realistic
BISQUE DOLLS 1860
For centuries the bisque doll has been a
popular collector’s item, and today vintage dolls
can sell for thousands – the most expensive
bisque doll ever sold was purchased for a
whopping £242,500. Based on its predecessor,
the china doll, the bisque doll also featured
unglazed ceramic, which gives the doll its
distinctive skin-like texture and aesthetic.
Initially designed in the image of an adult,
French Bébé dolls made in the likeness of
children became the most popular type in the
1880s. Bisque dolls are still made today, but
purely for the collector’s market.
DUTCH DOLLS
17TH CENTURY
With their simple, chiselled figures
and delicately painted faces, the
Dutchdollwasapopulartoyin
Germany and the Netherlands
from the 1600s onwards. Simple in
their design, the dolls featured an
ornate bust and painted feet and
arms,buttherestofthefigure
remained untreated – after all,
thedollsweremadefordressing
up.Infact,thedollwasintended
to encourage their owners to
create clothing for the doll out of
scraps ofmaterial.Alsoknownaspeg
wooden dolls, they picked up their
nickname from their unique joints,
which can be moved independently.
Dutch dolls were bought
undressed so that clothes could
be made from scraps of material
EGYPTIAN PADDLE DOLL 2000 BCE
Unlike traditional dolls, the Egyptian wooden paddle doll was more
symbolic, instead of being used for pleasure. Found in the tombs
of Ancient Egypt, the stylised design emphasised female sexuality
which has led many archeologists to believe that the dolls represe
rebirth after death. Often decorated with patterns to show clothi
some dolls even featured long strands of ‘hair’, made up of bead
straw. One of the best-preserved paddle dolls is housed in the B
Museum, with its hair and painting still perfectly intact.
Most Roman
dolls came with
articulated arms and
legs that mimicked
human motion
RUSSIAN
NESTING DOLLS 1890
First created in 1890 for Russian entrepreneur Savva
Mamontov, the Matryoshka doll – now known as the
Russian doll – was exhibited in 1900 at the Exposition
Universelle in Paris, where it quickly became a popular
exhibit. After the exposition, demand for the dolls soared,
and manufacturing of the dolls spread across the nation.
In 2003, the largest set of nesting dolls was created, with
a whopping 51 dolls in all. During the Soviet era, novelty
dolls became increasingly in demand, with dolls carved and
painted to depict Soviet leaders or famous politicians.
ROMAN DOL 3RD 4TH TURIES
Much like Roman art and architecture, Roman
dolls set a precedent for every future doll, with
their human-like features and articulated limbs that
could re-create human motion. Usually fashioned
from ivory, clay or wood, some dolls were even
made from bone. One of the most famous doll
hauls was made in the Necropolis of Ontur, Spain,
where four ivory dolls and one very unusual
amber doll were discovered in the graves of Roman
children. Even when a girl grew up, her doll would
stay close,anduponmarriage,thedollwouldbe
dedicated to a goddess.
Vasily
Zvyozdochkin
RUSSIAN 1876-1956
Credited with creating the first
ever set of nesting dolls, Vasily
Zvyozdochkin, a skilled woodcraftsman,
hand carved the eight-piece set, which
featured a mix of young boys and girls,
and then finally a baby. The dolls
were then painted by Sergey
Malyutin, an acclaimed
Russian artist.
Many considered
Egyptian paddle
dolls to be a
symbol of rebirth
The skill of creating a Russian doll lies in the
painting of each nesting doll