Laura Scattolini and her dolls

Laura Scattolini is one of the most celebrated puppet masters, winner of numerous awards and prizes, including: Dolls magazine and the Walt Disney Corporation.

Laura was born in Mantua (Lombardy-Northern Italy). Her father was a famous musician and painter. By happy coincidence, the girl inherited an artistic gift that helped her develop many hobbies, a variety of skills and interests.

Observing her father's work, Laura began to paint herself and developed a lifelong passion for the visual arts.

After leaving school, Laura was forced to get a job. The artist spent a long 20 years in public service. A happy marriage brought her fulfilment in her family life, two charming children and the opportunity to pursue what her soul has always aspired to. In 1995 she began her career as an internationally renowned puppet master!

Laura says:

• The dolls were my friends. I loved them, but I always felt they weren't what I wanted, they weren't like me, too elegant, too luxurious, with contrived hairstyles. But most importantly, their eyes never met mine. When I was a child I remember dreaming of making a doll myself.
• Thanks to Debbie CarlosI became a puppet master at Disney Land, the head of the puppet show. She was the first person who inspired me, believed in my art and gave me strength when I had several times considered giving up the idea. I wasn't good at doll hands at all.
• I love doing everything! I love making dolls, painting pictures, sewing silk cushions decorated with flowers. I love fixing electrical appliances in the house and even changing the wallpaper!

Laura writes down all her ideas and ideas in a notebook. Just a few words and the image of the future doll is already visible. "The "girl watching the goldfish in the aquarium" or the "child seeing the rainbow" take on surprisingly vivid forms in the master's work.

The artist firmly believes that the costume for the doll is extremely important. She carefully chooses fabric in soft neutral tones before she starts sewing, giving it an aged look, like from "grandma's coffers". She uses scraps of batiste to make her underwear and decorates it with vintage lace from Valencia.

Each of Laura's dolls is made in a single copy. Their faces are unique. The images can be inspired by photos in magazines or by real people. Dolls' size is 60-70 centimeters. Material is polymer clay. Textile body is formed on a wire frame, allowing the doll to give the desired pose. The hair is natural or made of high quality mohair.

Laura is surprisingly succeeds пheir character and emotion on the faces of their characters. Whether they are happy or angry, dreamy or hurt, they are always alive.

Laura's work can be found in the collections of Robin Williams, Demi Moore and Barbra Streisand.

The artist only creates about 10 dolls a year, so collectors from all over the world are willing to wait months for her work.

Exhibition organisers recognise that it is great luck to get a Laura doll for an exhibition.

Laura Scattolini's work was first shown in Moscow in 2006. Since then, Laura has been a regular guest at exhibitions in Russia.

When we look at a Scattolini doll, we see the heart and soul of its author. Each doll has its own story to tell.

Photos are taken from open sources on the Internet.

With love and respect, Tatiana Kalinina 

Instagram @tatakalinyshka