In THE ANCIENT world dolls were usually made of rags, wood, bone or fired clay. Relatively few have survived because of the perishable nature of their materials. This doll survived as a result of the very dry conditions in parts of Egypt.
It is made of made of coarse linen stuffed with rags and pieces of papyrus. The arms are made from a long roll of linen attached at the back. Coloured wool, now faded, was applied to parts of the face and body. A blue glass bead attached to the head, perhaps a hair ornament, suggests the doll was female.
Dolls ranged from simple home-made playthings such as this example, to miniature works of art, with finely worked features and jointed bodies. As well as dolls, children had a wide range of toys and playthings, such as toy animals, soldiers, doll’s houses with miniature furniture, spinning tops, hoops and marbles.
Roman, made in Egypt, lst-5th century ad
Ht 19 cm
Gift of the Egypt Exploration Fund
It is made of made of coarse linen stuffed with rags and pieces of papyrus. The arms are made from a long roll of linen attached at the back. Coloured wool, now faded, was applied to parts of the face and body. A blue glass bead attached to the head, perhaps a hair ornament, suggests the doll was female.
Dolls ranged from simple home-made playthings such as this example, to miniature works of art, with finely worked features and jointed bodies. As well as dolls, children had a wide range of toys and playthings, such as toy animals, soldiers, doll’s houses with miniature furniture, spinning tops, hoops and marbles.
Roman, made in Egypt, lst-5th century ad
Ht 19 cm
Gift of the Egypt Exploration Fund