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HomeExploreCollectiblesTraditional Dolls Around the World
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Painted wood, folded corn husks, and scraps of cloth can all become dolls. These photographs show how makers in different places give those materials a face and a purpose, from nesting toys to figures made for festivals and family traditions.

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Images20

1
Matryoshka, Russia
Matryoshka, Russia: Five painted figures step down in size, with red flowers and headscarves linking the set. Woodturners…
2
Hina Dolls, Japan
Hina Dolls, Japan: The two court figures at the top of the red steps wear clothes modeled on Japan’s imperial court…
3
Lele Cloth Doll, Querétaro, Mexico
Lele Cloth Doll, Querétaro, Mexico: A round cloth face, braids, and a ribbon headdress identify this handmade Lele from…
4
Daruma, Japan
Daruma, Japan: The red papier-mâché figure has two blank eyes. In Takasaki’s Daruma tradition, people fill in one eye when…
5
Motanka Cloth Dolls, Ukraine
Motanka Cloth Dolls, Ukraine: Bright threads make crosses in place of faces on these dolls by Olena Shcherban. In the…
6
Worry Doll, Guatemala
Worry Doll, Guatemala: Bright woven fabric forms the skirt of this small figure. In the Guatemalan tradition, children tell…
7
No-Face Corn Husk Doll, North America
No-Face Corn Husk Doll, North America: Husks are folded and tied to form the arms, head, and skirt of this doll made in the…
8
Kondapalli Wooden Dolls, Andhra Pradesh, India
Kondapalli Wooden Dolls, Andhra Pradesh, India: The seated pair shows the bright colors of Kondapalli’s carved figures…
9
Huishan Clay Dolls, Wuxi, China
Huishan Clay Dolls, Wuxi, China: The rounded faces and painted clothes are hallmarks of Huishan’s clay figures. In Wuxi…
10
Naruko Kokeshi, Japan
Naruko Kokeshi, Japan: Red chrysanthemums wrap around a simple wooden cylinder, with a round, painted head completing the…
11
Hopi Katsina Carving, United States
Hopi Katsina Carving, United States: Hopi artist Brian Honyouti carved this Nata’aska figure in 1998. Katsina carvings…
12
Chancay-Textile Doll, Peru
Chancay-Textile Doll, Peru: Wool cloth and yarn give this wrapped and sewn figure its shape. It was probably made in the…
13
Corn Husk Doll With Flowers, Slovakia
Corn Husk Doll With Flowers, Slovakia: Corn husks become a skirt and sleeves in this figure by Ružena Baňasová of Bardejov…
14
Hanbok Wedding Doll, Korea
Hanbok Wedding Doll, Korea: The orange hanbok and the bowing pose give this small figure the appearance of a bride. A…
15
Anti-Atlas Feast Doll, Morocco
Anti-Atlas Feast Doll, Morocco: A yellow dress, a long scarf, and red fabric braids dress this doll for a feast. A young…
16
Ndebele Courtship Doll, South Africa
Ndebele Courtship Doll, South Africa: Beads wrap around this tall figure made with fabric and fiber. Dolls like this one…
17
Seminole Palmetto Doll, Florida, United States
Seminole Palmetto Doll, Florida, United States: Palmetto fiber forms the body, and sewn cotton patchwork and glass beads…
18
Val Gardena Wooden Doll, Italy
Val Gardena Wooden Doll, Italy: Woodcarvers in Val Gardena made simple, jointed wooden dolls that traveled far beyond the…
19
Inuit Doll Family, Nunavut, Canada
Inuit Doll Family, Nunavut, Canada: Margaret Suna Kipsigak made these dolls in Igloolik, Nunavut, in 2003–2004. The family…
20
Asante Akua’ba, Ghana
Asante Akua’ba, Ghana: A broad, flat head and narrow body give this carved wooden akua’ba its distinctive profile. Among…

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