A Herman Ottó Múzeum évkönyve 49. (2010)

Varga Marianna-Viszóczky Ilona: Egyedi népviseletes babák

DOLLS DRESSED IN UNIQUE FOLK COSTUMES The making of dolls dressed in folk costume does not have a particularly long tradition in Hungary. The first dolls of this type appeared in response to a popular demand for them in the 1930s and they soon became a new genre in Hungarian folk art. These were not traditional dolls: their head, body and hands reveal that they were variants of ragdolls. Their costume is a miniature variant of a particular region's daily or festive clothing. These dolls could be categorised as falling into the category of folk embroidery or of artisan work in the traditional sense of the word, although the creation of these dolls called for a good anatomical knowledge (the bodily proportions and the facial features) and a familiarity with the traditional costumes of a particular region and age. The doll makers also had to search for the most suitable materials before making a doll dressed in folk costume. The study offers an overview of the history of these dolls, alongside a description of the techniques used for creating them and a presentation of the most talented doll makers and their dolls. Also discussed are the similarities and differences between the dolls made in co-operatives and the pieces created by individual doll makers, alongside an examination of how budding folk artists learnt the techniques of creating dolls, how they familiarised themselves with the folk art traditions of a particular region and how they worked when they drew from their own traditions. The study is rounded off by a discussion of the dolls made by individuals who regarded doll making as a source of livelihood and accepted the guidelines set down by the doll creators. Marianna Varga-Ilona Viszóczky 550