The making of dolls slowly gained prominence in Europe, which later became the center for doll-making. Subsequent to the Civil War doll-making became an industry in the United States in the 1860s. Since the time of the origin of dolls to later years the making of dolls have undergone several changes with more new techniques and styles being adopted. Children in the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe and America usually played with rag dolls which were made out of linen or unbleached cotton, and filled with sawdust or bran. There were several new types of dolls in the Victorian era with the introduction of materials such as papier-mâché, china and sheet metal.
The development of dolls from primitive to more intricate forms, dolls have left behind them traces of a quiet happiness characteristic of childhood play. Since the origin of dolls children had a special fascination for them. They formed an important part in the everyday lives of little girls. Through the evolution of dolls, they have also been a popular collection item for rich heirs, princes and other nobility. Since time immemorial dolls have been a significant part of human imagination. Besides being a play thing for kids, they were used to prepare little girls for the role of motherhood through the every actions of dressing, feeding or doing their doll’s hair.
Over the centuries dolls have evolved to embody many esthetic ideals whether they were industrially made, handcrafted or used as simple children toys. The older varieties of dolls made with natural materials like clay, ceramic, bones, cloth or straw have been replaced by porcelain, plastics, and paper dolls. Through the origin of dolls we learn about many aspects of dolls like the people who played with them, made them or who collected them.
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