What is the secret of the most popular fabric dolls: Tilda, the Tryapiens and their friends

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Once upon a time, children played with dolls made of colorful patches and skeins of thread. It seems that in our age of plastic and new technologies, there is no longer any place for textile dolls in the world - but this is only at first glance. Today, across the globe, the creation of fabric dolls is becoming a hobby or a lifelong affair, they are collected, dressed up and cherished. Only they do not look at all the same as in the distant past …

Waldorf doll

Perhaps, in the 20th century, teachers of the Waldorf education system were the first to pay attention to textile dolls. They developed the first pedagogical doll in history based on a folk toy. The creators were inspired by the anthroposophical ideas of Rudolf Steiner and the ideas of pedagogy of that time about the specific periods of the psychophysiological development of the child. Waldorf dolls should be created by the children themselves, together with their parents or caregivers - this contributes to the development of motor skills. They can be made and meaningful by adults and then donated to children. In any case, Waldorf dolls were conceived as "family" dolls, not designed for commercial production.

They are made exclusively from natural materials, cotton, flax and sheep wool, most often without using a sewing machine. The appearance depends on whether they are intended for toddlers or older children. The smallest are suitable for small "Waldorfs" in funny caps, almost devoid of details, and for children from three years old - voluminous, elegant, well-detailed toys. Their faces remain conventional, which means that they can appear in the role of any character in the game.

Tilda and company

Perhaps the most popular textile doll today is Tilda. It was invented by Norwegian Tone Finanger, a graphic designer by training. In 1999, she developed her first Tilda and soon opened a shop for interior dolls and accessories. Ten years later, Tilda has literally taken over the world, giving many people an exciting (and lucrative!) Hobby.

Today, the Tone Finanger brand does not sell ready-made dolls, but mainly offers customers sets for their creation and books dedicated to Tilda. The first editions were "Tilda Christmas" and "Tilda Easter", which demonstrated patterns and sewing technology for gift interior dolls with unusual proportions. Each Tilda has its own name and its own history; the line includes Tilda angels, hares and other animals, male characters. All of them are elongated, with long limbs and a small head with very conventional features, a tiny nose and eye-nodules are enough. Often the fabric for making such dolls is tinted with tea and coffee, and the Tilda themselves are scented with vanilla, cinnamon or essential oils.

Tryapiens - fashionistas from Korea

The Tryapiens are often called “textile Barbies,” but they are sleeker, more delicate and pretentious than their American cousin. The first tryapiens were created by a native of Seoul, Jung Hee Young, who in her childhood dreamed of a fairy-tale princess Barbie. However, her parents were too poor … Thirty years later, Jung Hee Young, expecting the birth of a child, decided to take up some hobby and remembered her childhood dream. And in 2000, the young mother had already opened her own online store, which sold luxurious textile dolls with sad eyes, reminiscent of anime heroines. Fragile figures, long hinged limbs, a slender swan neck, lush hairstyles and fantastic outfits …

During the year, 300 thousand tryapiens were sold - and all of them were made exclusively by hand! In addition, Jung Hee Young began to conduct master classes on creating dolls, published several books with patterns for making dolls and their outfits.

The size of the rags can be up to half a meter - it is difficult to achieve a high level of detail in a smaller size. Most often they are dressed in the spirit of the 17th-19th centuries, but there are also more modern versions, both everyday ones and better copying the creations of high fashion masters. Ribbons, beads, fabric flowers, flounces and ruffles, lace … The decor of the Tryapiens is always rich and complex, the hairstyles of their synthetic hair amaze the imagination. In the hands of the beauties, fans, bouquets, small theatrical handbags. But their faces are conventional, with two touches of the brush, only eyes are outlined, laughing or sadly lowered. Like Tilda, tryapiens are not created for games at all, but for interior decoration and collecting.

Attic dolls

The origin of attic dolls is steeped in legends, but they were born in the USA (“attic dolls” of American craftswomen often hold worn flags, letters USA and other symbols of the country in their hands). On the one hand, they can be associated with the Great Depression, when many families lost the opportunity not only to buy their children not only toys, but also clothes, constantly altering the old and even using bags for sewing clothes. On the other hand, Reggedy Ann is considered the first attic doll, patented by the artist John Burton Gruel.

His daughter found an old doll in the attic, which Gruel restored. When his daughter fell seriously ill, he entertained her with stories of the adventures of his beloved doll. Doctors could not save the girl, and in her memory Gruel published a book of fairy tales. The owner of the publishing house offered to release small replicas of the original doll that would be sold along with the books. This is how the unpretentious "attic doll" became one of the most recognizable characters in American culture.

However, today toys in this style are very diverse - they are related only by their naive appearance, charmingly nostalgic outfits, cute accessories and deliberate "aging". Attic dolls are necessarily scented with "cozy" smells - coffee, cinnamon, vanilla.

Primitive dolls

Attic dolls are also adjoined by primitive dolls. It is often quite difficult to draw a divide, but primitives are distinguished by a deliberately simplified form and an exaggeratedly rough, sloppy execution, often paradoxically requiring special skill.