Bisque and leather doll

Dolls in one form or another have existed from earliest times. They may have their origins in religious or votive purposes but dolls, and terracotta figures which may have been dolls, have been found in children's ancient graves.

Dolls can be made from an enormous variety of materials. Wood, rag, leather, china, wax and bisque are just a few. They can be elaborately moulded, simply carved or knitted, dressed or undressed. A poor child has been recorded as making a doll from a stick and an apple. This makeshift doll became something to cradle and love, just as her own mother cradled a baby. Dolls may be made by a child's parents, or be expensive purchases.

Dolls can be played with as child or baby figures, or can be used as fashion models. Barbie is the modern equivalent of 18th and 19th century dolls which were used to model changing styles of dress. As a miniaturised human, the doll can take on whatever attributes the child, (whether a boy or a girl) wishes it to have. From the late 20th century, dolls such as G.I. Joe have even been made specifically for boys.

Many books for children have been written about dolls. These include: the Josephine books by Mrs Craddock, Enid Blyton's Noddy books, the golliwog books of Florence Upton, Hitty by Rachel Field, and works by Rumer Godden.

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