There are hundreds of types of dolls on the market today from realistic crying babies to statuesque representations of female empowerment and everything in between. Some dolls have ties to specific cultures and have come to represent those cultures to the outside world. These types of dolls are often revered as collector’s items for their beauty and craftsmanship.

Who said only little girls love to play with dolls? Nowadays, more and more women are obsessed with collecting real-looking baby dolls. But you cannot blame them anyway. These little dolls are definitely cute and adorable. If you’ll not take a closer inspection, you will definitely think that these women are holding real infants and not simply baby dolls.

Hopi Katsina Dolls

The Hopi, a Native American tribe in northeastern Arizona, used katsina dolls to teach young girls about their duties in the tribe. Girls accumulated a collection of the dolls by the time they reached maturity. These dolls, hand carved from cottonwood roots by men in the tribe, were physical representations of the spirit messengers of the universe, the Katsinam. The katsina dolls California have changed from simple carvings to elaborate works of art much sought after by collectors.

Russian Nesting Dolls

Based on Chinese nesting boxes from 1000 AD, these dolls, often called “Matryoshka” have become a truly Russian symbol. Brightly painted with a variety of colors and expressions, the largest doll or “mother” opens to 3 to 12 smaller dolls. Most sets are made from linden or birch tree and painted in khokhloma style with bright colors and many natural elements such as leaves and flowers.  However, because of the popularity of the dolls, it’s possible to find sets painted with everything from political figures to The Wizard of Oz characters.

Mexican Rag Dolls

Often called “Marias” these brightly colored soft dolls are most often associated with the small group of indigenous Otomi people in the Mexican region of Querétaro. Although not the only doll style of Mexico, these beribboned beauties are favored by tourists who can buy them on street corners. Authentic Marias can be hand or machine sewn but never glued.

Dolls are not just for children anymore. They are beautiful collector’s items rich in culture and meaning. Whether you fall in love with a particular style of doll or pick up one from each place you visit, dolls from around the world can be both expressive and charming nestled on your display shelf.

Jennifer Eonflux