The pocket folk doll belongs to a group of dolls known as "rag dolls" or "cloth dolls." The simple pattern used is called a "pancake style pattern" because it is flat on both sides. The miniature doll may have first been made as a baby for a larger doll or just because the materials at hand would only make a small doll. The history of dolls dates back to ancient Greek and Roman times. Many dolls were just playthings for girls, but some dolls had religious significance. Cloth dolls can probably be traced to when woven cloth was invented, but none exists today because fabric disintegrates over time.
Miniature dolls were made for dollhouses that date back to the 1500s. There are records from the 1800s showing that many dollhouses came from Germany. Some of the earliest miniature dolls were made from wood or wax. Later, they became more elaborate and were made from glazed china and bisque.
For more information, please go to the historical background for our Rag Doll Kit (4715).
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