We’re going to refer to the doll shown above as the “Pen-wiper” doll because the little black felt pad she’s seated upon is what’s called a pen-wiper. Back in the 1800’s people used what we think of today as calligraphy-style pens to write letters and correspondences. The black felt circle, with its “circular pieces of layered felt and silk” (1) would have been used to … Continue reading The mystery of the pen wiper seated doll… #AmericanDoll #2

The doll in the image above is what’s known as a cornhusk doll (sometimes spelled as two words: corn husk doll), and they are so called because, well… they’re made from corn husks. This one is housed at the DAR Museum in Washington DC, and it dates back to the mid-19th century, so if you’re participating in the history challenge, you can give it a … Continue reading The history of the corn husk doll (AKA cornhusk dolls) #AmericanDoll #1

In July, we did a quick study of some of the oldest dolls on earth, but did you know there was also a contest running? All you had to do was leave a comment on the “History of Dolls” blog posts in July, and your name was automatically entered in a drawing for one of three free copies of Doll Castle News. To read the … Continue reading History Challenge! And… announcing three contest winners! #History #DollLover

Because Greek and Roman writers left us a large body of written texts, including anecdotes about everyday life, we know that little Greek and Roman girls did play with dolls in ancient times. Some of the oldest Greek examples of dolls, dating back to the 7th century BCE, have a strange bell shape to the body with elongated necks. Their legs, however, were jointed to … Continue reading What’s the oldest articulated doll that girls played with in history? #Plaggona #DollHistory