What kind of dolls are not found in stores today! Fashionistas, beauties, princesses, baby dolls. You can find toys in the form of babies, adolescents and young women. In short, now you can buy a doll for every taste.
And when were the very first friends of our daughters born? Who came up with this brilliant idea - to create a toy image of a person for children's games? Let's take a little trip back in time.
The first doll in the history of mankind appeared 40 thousand years ago. This is evidenced by archaeological excavations that were carried out on the territory of modern Czech Republic. In one of the ancient burials, a small figurine made of mammoth bone was found, resembling a man, whose arms and legs were movably attached to the body. In the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs, clay figurines were found that were supposed to brighten up the posthumous life of the deceased rulers of Egypt.
Who were the dolls before they became toys?
The first dolls were not children's toys - they were used as attributes of a religious cult. They were considered the guardians of the family. Therefore, they were asked for advice and worshiped as deities. In some Muslim countries, brides are still presented with dolls at their weddings, which help to strengthen family ties, give prosperity and promote the birth of good offspring.
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The first Slavic dolls were called "nursery rhymes". They helped to reap a good harvest, saved from evil forces, healed from ailments, escorted the souls of the dead to the afterlife. After the birth of the child, the mother independently sewed a doll-bereginya, which was always in the cradle, protecting the baby from diseases and the evil eye.
But in order for the dolls to acquire magical power, it was necessary to follow special rules. Sorcerers and sorcerers, creating a human image, did not use sharp and cutting objects (needles and scissors). The fabric was torn by hand, and the parts were fastened with improvised means. Dolls were inherited, being considered a family heirloom and a talisman of the family.
I want to become a child's toy
Gradually, ritual idols turned into children's toys. It's hard to say when this happened. The fact is that there has long been a belief: if children play with dolls in the house, it brings the family good luck and material wealth. Mothers encouraged their children to play these games so that they could embrace eternal values and learn to maintain family relationships. With the help of dolls, children tried on "adult" roles, communicated, learned the world and tried to manage life situations.
What dolls are made of
What materials weren't the "little people" made of! The most popular were wood, stone, clay, wax, animal bones, shells, pieces of cloth and thread. Strands of hair were intertwined with beads and threads. Egyptian dolls were distinguished by their extraordinary grace. They were made with movable joints and real hair. In ancient Japan, dolls were carved from willow branches and dressed in paper dresses.
The first dolls were without a face, since it was believed that a homemade ritual figurine should not bear resemblance to a person. A little later, they began to paint their face with charcoal or embellish them with embroidery.
In the 18th century, the first porcelain and glass figurines appeared, as well as dolls made of semi-precious metals, which were bought by noble people. These were no longer just toys, but works of art that are of historical and cultural value in modern times. And the poor made rag dolls, stuffing them with straw or sawdust.
Modern dolls: what are they?
The 20th century presented children with rubber and plastic toys that they can play with without fear of tearing or breaking. Mechanical robot dolls that can move and talk are another step in the toy revolution. At the same time, a new genre was born - the author's doll, in which the artists embodied their original ideas of beauty. But such products are not intended for children's games - they are purchased for interior decoration or replenishment of personal collections.
Puppet images change along with the development of civilization. Children will play with dolls as long as this world exists. No one knows what toys will be in the future, the main thing is that they teach goodness, beauty and humanity.