Dolls Around the World

Dolls Around the World, curated by Ellie Luchini (History and Archaeology, Class of 2025), showcases dolls from the Stanford University Archaeology Collections. Dolls have been made and utilized by cultures around the world for centuries. But what makes a doll a doll? In Western contexts, the word “doll” usually refers to toys for girls. In an archaeological context, researchers studying prehistoric sites often struggle with identifying excavated figurines. Were they children’s toys, did they have a ritualistic purpose, or both? Identifying something as a child’s plaything may seem insignificant, but dolls reveal the values and roles societies want their children to adopt, such as teaching young girls to be motherly. By taking an expansive understanding of “dolls,” we can explore how they are used to teach values in other cultures and can have religious, spiritual, or educational importance.

Dolls Around the World explores the diverse meanings of dolls around the world, including their role in rituals, spirituality, and cultural education. These perspectives show that there is not one definition for a typical doll. This exhibit also emphasizes the importance of provenance research in helpingus understand the cultural purposes of dolls.

Please note that this exhibit is not open to the public. Faculty, students, researchers, and campus guests may schedule a viewing by contacting us.