If you ask me what interesting things I would like to see in the past, this is undoubtedly the birth of the first Doll.

Have you noticed what magic the doll has! Just for a second you meet her gaze and you already want to catch the expression in your eyes, the mood that the author conveyed to her, to touch her. And now, you are already in captivity of the fabulous puppet charm.

Who do we think of more often when we hear the word 'Doll' - the rosy-cheeked 'Poupse', the cheerful, fun-loving 'Matryoshka' or the long-legged 'Barbie'? The term 'Doll' came to us from antiquity and predates the advent of painting and writing.

Researchers still cannot come to a common opinion where this word originates from. Some scholars believe that the term has Greek roots "Κοῦκλα", literally meaning "human figure". Others that it comes from Latin "cucullus" - “Cockle, hood, cape”. And this opinion has serious grounds, because in a primitive society, during ritual actions, people put on masks that covered their heads, and, sometimes, the whole figure as a whole, turning into a Doll.

In the most ancient times, man already had a need to express his fantasies... People collected sticks, blades of grass and bark of trees, all this was mixed and combined, as a result, it turned out, quite to itself, a Doll.

The child is now holding a "mummy substitute" that can distract and occupy him or her for a while. A doll like this can be played with and new experiences can be had. Already in that distant era, the doll fulfilled an important function, serving as a child's amulet. Mum believed that during her absence, through the Doll, she controlled her child, and the child, as if not parted from his mother - there she is, always near.

On the territory of Ancient Egypt, dolls were found, presumably made in 20th century BC... Carved from wood or bone, these dolls were flat in shape. The clothes were applied with paints over the body. Intricate hairstyles of threads and clay beads adorned their heads.

It is noteworthy that the Egyptian dolls had no legs. The lower part of the body was given a rounded shape. It was believed that if you make legs for a doll, then it can escape from the mistress. After all, even then, dolls were endowed with magical properties. People thought that with the observance of special rituals, dolls could influence the events of their lives and the fate of other people, if you just ask her well.

There were special ancient Egyptian dolls that were not intended for games, they were buried together with the owner so that the deceased would not be left alone in the afterlife.

As a separate craft, doll making appeared in Ancient Greece around V century BC To create them, the craftsmen used terracotta, baked clay, wood, stone. The most famous clay dolls of that time were female figurines created during the Mycenaean civilization.

Great Greeks, Herodotus and Aristotle, in their writings captured the story of the existence of dolls on strings, marionettes. From ancient writings, we learn about the "puppeteer - the pulling thread Patane”, Which was allowed to perform at the famous Dionysus Theater, where only the Great Masters gave performances. This is the first mention of the Puppeteer name in the history of mankind..

Later, puppet theaters became widespread in ancient Rome. The dolls were transformed, their appearance more and more approached the human. Theatrical puppets could be divided into two broad categories: "Horse" and "Floor". Working with the "Horse" dolls, the actors hidden by the screen held them high above their heads, while speaking with the "Floor" dolls they were above the stage, controlling their characters from above.

Often such views ridiculed human vices and imperfections. Once the puppeteers touched the Emperor Julius Caesar with their satire so much that he forbade the puppet actors to pronounce the text. For a long time, at performances, it was allowed to express one's thoughts only with movements and gestures.

In ancient Rome, girls were given dolls on their birthday. For the rest of their lives, up to the wedding day, they accompanied young Roman women. On the day of the wedding, the girls sacrificed their Dolls to the goddess Venus, renouncing childhood and entering adulthood.

In Medieval Europe, the creation of dolls was severely condemned by the Church and its minions... It was believed that a person is not able to recreate the image created by God. Such acts were considered sacrilegious and were severely persecuted. In addition, the church waged an unrelenting struggle against sorcerers who used sculptures in the shape of a human body for performing magical rituals.

On the other hand, it is impossible to calculate how many human lives the Doll saved, in those days when people decided that instead of a person, the Almighty Deity, as a sacrifice, they could offer the Doll. The dolls were beautifully dressed up, adorned with jewelry and burned at sacrificial fires.

But life does not stand still, so the puppet world is undergoing many changes. England, France and Germany became the cradle of puppetry in the 15th and 16th centuries.

The images of the dolls become more complicated, they become more and more artistic. The creation process has become time consuming. For the first time, specializations of craftsmen appeared. A carpenter made doll furniture, a potter made dishes, and a tailor made outfits. For the first time, the dolls were dressed in dresses specially made for them.

In England, in the XV-XVI centuries, dolls began to be created from wood... The delicate work was done by puppeteer carvers who were considered respected craftsmen. Their creations were expensive and highly prized. Dolls of such masters were presented only by kings, as a very honorable award, for special merits.

In Germany, dolls were cast from wax. To this day, the skill of making glass blown doll eyes is passed from generation to generation. Eyes, of all sizes and colors, are manually blown out of glass melted to a liquid state using special tools.

In France, puppet masters, for the first time in history, began to create dolls-mannequins designed to demonstrate luxurious outfits. In the second half of the seventeenth century, the French produced beautiful dolls, Pandoras. These medium-sized porcelain dolls, with a body to match the proportions of an adult woman, were created with a whole wardrobe of chic outfits and accessories.

The Pandora were very fragile and expensive. They served as a luxury item for noble people and were considered an elite hobby for adults.

At a time of rapid technological advancement, mid-eighteenth-century Europe was gripped by a revolutionary trend - the creation of mechanical android puppets... Great master, Jacques de Vaucanson, left us a legacy of a unique creation that combined the classic features of a doll with the achievements of modern progress, the famous Duck, demonstrating all the beauty of the natural life of the duck organism.

The magnificent Peacock from the workshop of the mechanic James Cox, which has occupied its place of honor in the Hermitage since 1797, is amazing.

These amazing dolls, to this day, delight, with their magnificence and the scale of the talent of the masters who created them.

The invention of porcelain became a completely new milestone in the history of doll development.... The secret of the Chinese masters was discovered by Europeans at the beginning of the 19th century. Long-lasting, glazed, beautiful porcelain immediately became a favorite material for puppeteers

With the advent of "Biscuit" porcelain, matt, tinted in flesh color, the faces of the dolls glowed with warm and natural beauty.

The invention of plastic - a new milestone in the history of the puppet world... The industrial use of this material began in the middle of the 20th century. Cheap and easy to manufacture, easy to process material has become a real gift. Now children's dolls and toys have become available to every family.

In Russia, puppetry has developed in its own unique way... Under the great reformer Peter I, craftswomen were invited from Holland, who taught Russian nuns to collect porcelain figurines, taught the secrets of making papier-mâché. The most difficult to create, the pupae heads were cast in the family's porcelain factory Benois, in St. Petersburg... Since ancient times, Gorodets, Bogorodskoye, Sergiev Posad have been the centers of folk puppetry. Craftsmen created unusually soulful, unique toys.

In the East, in China and Japan, dolls have their own ancient history and culture. We remember where porcelain, paper and silk came from. The first doll finds are dated III millennium BC

By the Emperor of Japan, in 1936, after several successful international exhibitions, doll making was recognized as an art.

The trademark of China is the shaking head, the Chinese dummy, an original porcelain children's toy. It is worth slightly touching the head as the "dummy" begins to swing it, causing the constant delight of observers.

Towards the end of the 20th century, interest in handmade dolls begins to revive. The tendency to collect rare, unique works is reappearing.

The creation of a doll has always been recognized as a fine art, puppeteer masters were highly valued in society, and collectors and amateurs are ready to give a lot of money to purchase their favorite Doll.

As a part of the history and culture of all mankind, the doll retains in its image the originality and characteristic features of the people who create it. She talks about our morals, achievements and preferences. This is the main value and charm of the Doll.

Tatyana Kalinina Instagram @tatakalinyshka