DOLLS
affective memories
the dolls
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“A rather clumsy-bodied rag doll. Emilia was made by Aunt Nastácia, with retro black eyes and eyebrows so high up that it's like seeing a witch."
Excerpt“The girl with the upturned little nose” - Emília is one of the main characters in the children's work by Monteiro Lobato
Emília is one of the main characters in the children's work of Monteiro Lobato - Brazilian writer (1882-1948), in the series related to Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo, her first appearance was in the story “The girl with the upturned little nose”
Emilia is a rag doll, stuffed with macela. In many stories, she changes her dress, is fixed, or is stuffed again. Narizinho also makes and remakes his eyebrows (according to Reinações de Narizinho) and his eyes (which are retro and therefore burst if Emilia opens them too much). She is able to walk and move freely, but is often treated by Narizinho as an ordinary doll and is "pushed in her pocket".
Doll is one of the oldest and most popular toys in the world, which reproduces the human forms or characters from fiction. In most cultures, dolls are associated with the female universe, but later gave rise to dolls, which are associated with boys.
But where did this idea come from? What are the first records of this icon and when did it become an object highly desired by children around the world and used to spread consumption patterns, aesthetics and beauty?
Dolls have been around for thousands of years, at the beginning of their history, they weren't meant to play with. They almost always had a religious function and could only be handled by priests and healers.
Records of the first dolls date back to 5,000 years ago, in the Babylonian Civilization
although of probably existing that since the caves, although prehistoric dolls have never been found, they would be made of perishable materials.
They were present in all past civilizations. Small dolls carved in stone were found. Scientists called them Venus (the Greek goddess symbolizing fertility), as studies revealed that these dolls were used in rituals that “prepared” women for pregnancy and in religious ceremonies.
Throughout history, dolls have followed the development of man and his civilizations. The Egyptians, for example, made dolls out of terracotta, a clay molded and baked in the oven. They were called ushtbs, measured between 10 and 23 centimeters and used to be placed in the tombs of the pharaohs.
In ancient Greece, dolls had other functions. Young women used to offer them to the goddesses at the time of their marriage, in the hope of having children. It is possible that the habit of playing with dolls was derived from these early religious figures related to female fertility.
Among the Romans, it was tradition to celebrate, together with the homage to the god Saturn (symbol of time), in December, private parties in which dolls were given as gifts. In May, when the god Lares (who protected the houses) was celebrated, altars were erected with these images.
Well, if ancient civilizations used dolls for religious purposes, when did they start to be used for playing? Hmmm… There is a mystery to this story!
In Herculaneum, a city in the Roman Empire destroyed by an eruption of the volcano Vesuvius in the year 79 of our era, the body of a girl hugging her doll was found, totally preserved by lava.
In the sarcophagus of Empress Maria, wife of the Roman Emperor Honórius, who died in the 3rd century AD, scientists found a doll the size of a Barbie, all articulated. She had a trousseau and bespoke jewelry, just like the modern doll. Was it a toy or another religious object?
In the Middle Ages, stylists used dolls with their models to dress them with their creations where people of possession (queens and ladies) chose their dresses.
Mass production began in the 15th century in Germany. Made of wood, alabaster and glass, they reproduced everyday scenes or figures from the court and society and were intended for adults. Only in the 19th century did they begin to be made for children. Porcelain was the main material. In the 20th century, plastic and rubber began to be used, the figures gained articulations and a greater resemblance to humans. A milestone in the doll industry was the launch of Barbie in 1959. Before her, most reproduced babies and there was little variety of positions and clothing.
The first dolls that spoke mamá and papa were produced in 1823 and perfected in 1880.
Among the materials used in the manufacture of ancient dolls, wood and fabrics stood out. Usually the head was made of wax, in molds made from sculptures. The material most appreciated by collectors was, however, pottery, which made it possible to make biscuit porcelain heads and a type of white porcelain with an appearance similar to marble.
From 1869 onwards, it became possible to manufacture dolls on a large scale, thanks to the appearance of celluloid. Then came other materials such as PVC and plastic.
There are several materials currently used to make dolls, such as: wood, straw, fabric, plastic, porcelain, paper, plush and vinyl, papier mache, wax and plaster, among others.
