Doll wearing flower wreath
4th century BC
Taranto, Italy
Brussels,Royal Museum of Art and History
Inv. A.306. Photogrammetry by Greektoys with the support of the Cinquantenaire Museum in Brussels.
Plagons were one of the favorite girls’ toys in ancient Greece. It was a female figure doll usually made of clay and with complicated hairstyles. In some cases the clothing of the doll was painted on it, while in other cases, girls were sewing clothes for their dolls out of rags. Plagons had an educational character too, by introducing girls to the role and obligations of a woman in society. On the eve of every girl’s wedding day, plagons were dedicated to the goddess Artemis.
A decisive step in differentiating religious figurines to dolls was the appearance of a jointed doll (nevrospaston) with movable arms and legs, while the use of mold by modelers would boost mass production so as every girl could own her favorite heroine!
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