Beloved #toys: a pair of #Roman ivory #dolls with articulated arms and legs found in a tomb of a little #girl from a wealthy family in Emona, Ljubljana/#Slovenia. The majority of the dolls in Roman times were made of less valuable materials such as clay, wood or linen. 🧵1/2 🏺 #archaeology - ThreadSky

drnwillburger.bsky.social • 48 days ago

Beloved #toys: a pair of #Roman ivory #dolls with articulated arms and legs found in a tomb of a little #girl from a wealthy family in Emona, Ljubljana/#Slovenia.
The majority of the dolls in Roman times were made of less valuable materials such as clay, wood or linen. 🧵1/2

🏺 #archaeology

Comments

drnwillburger.bsky.social•48 days ago

The two dolls that could be dressed with clothes must have been very precious to the girl who died far too young.

Dating 2nd half of the 3rd c. AD.

Photo: National Museum of Slovenia

🧵2/2

millamarguerite.bsky.social•48 days ago

Those moveable joints! They are like Barbie dolls!

malcolmstoneman.bsky.social•48 days ago

There is nothing new! 😉

xavibermudez.bsky.social•47 days ago

They look a lot like this beauty from Tarraco!
https://www.mnat.cat/obra/24/nina-articulada-divori/

ksader.bsky.social•48 days ago

This find is just astonishing. Thanks so much for sharing!!

pgmetz.bsky.social•47 days ago

❤️❤️

sacredblue22.bsky.social•48 days ago

She would have burned them before she got married. What a treasure.

farmerruth.bsky.social•48 days ago

Think of the work and skill that went into those!

elleneverthopman.bsky.social•47 days ago

Please include links!

drnwillburger.bsky.social•47 days ago

https://www.nms.si/si/zbirke/znameniti-predmeti/710-Slonokosceni-puncki

elleneverthopman.bsky.social•47 days ago

Thanks.

artistruth.bsky.social•48 days ago

Q: Is there any evidence (traces present in crevices) of there ever having been pigment/paint applied to any of these dolls—wood or ivory? Our modern aesthetic (post Picasso) would more easily accept the painting of “primitive wood carvings” but not so much of/on carvings of “pure” ivory—re: Elgin!

nelefinn.bsky.social•47 days ago

According to the museum website the dolls were painted.

artistruth.bsky.social•47 days ago

Thanks for checking this out Nele N:)

Best!

J,

nelefinn.bsky.social•47 days ago

I was thinking the same when I saw the dolls first time, and it would be interesting to know if they had proper faces or was the face left blank. That the museum doesn't tell, but the dating is based on the hair style.

artistruth.bsky.social•47 days ago

The ivory was definitely "sourced" from Africa. This said, the metal (bronze/iron) pins that "articulate" these dolls may provide more information--we have excellent records re specific alloys and metal working techniques. But, the pins in these dolls may be of modern origin--for display purposes.

nelefinn.bsky.social•47 days ago

The museum believes the dolls were made in Rome. There is listed a book for further reading, but at least a quick search didn't render anything else, than the "Games and toys" is one page long.
Janka Istenič: Roman Stories from the Crossroads. Exhibition catalogue. Ljubljana 2015, p. 76.

tomh4.bsky.social•48 days ago

That's a great question!

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