|
|
Article: Dolls
- Article from:
- Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood in History and Society
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Dolls
Dolls are known in all cultures and are one of the oldest and most widespread forms of toys. A doll in its most basic form is a cone-shaped figure which can be made of clay, wood, stone, bone, cloth or different natural materials. It is believed that in prehistoric societies, dolls made in a human likeness had a magic or religious significance. At what point these figures became toys for children is not clear, but discarded doll-like figures were doubtless picked up and used for play.
History
Small human figures made of wood and clay have been found in Egyptian graves from 2000 b.ce.; dolls of clay, marble and alabaster have been found in children's graves of ancient
Greece ...