Indian Dolls | National-Louis University Archives and Special Collections

Rights: This material has been photographed and these photos are available upon request. These artifacts do not leave the collection. Due to the fragility and age some of the items, they cannot be handled. Some of the items are incomplete and/or broken. National Louis University Archives allows access at their discretion.

Related Materials: National-Louis University Archives and Special Collections houses many various artifacts. This collection represents only a portion of these artifacts. Other collections include the following:

Japanese dolls generally called ningyō (meaning doll, toy, and plaything), accessories accompanying the ningyō, East Indian dolls, Hispanic dolls, Asian peasant dolls mounted on stands, painted wood farm figures, several miscellaneous figurines, metal doll bookends, a complete wooden structure/house, an ivory boat on black stand, one pair beaded shoes, clay bowl set, a carved wood paddle, a large Japanese hagoita paddle or battledore and a fan. The ningyō in our collection are a combination of several different types of Japanese dolls: Hina-Ningyō, Anesama, Mitsuore, and Tsuchi ningyō. The Archives houses a set of Hina-ningyō for Hina-matsuri (dolls for the girl's day festival) including the stands, clothing, crowns, scepters, swords and musical instruments; this set comprises the majority of our Japanese ningyō. A few flat, folded paper dolls without facial features called Anesama are included as well. One Mitsuore doll with bendable joints and numerous Tsuchi ningyō (clay dolls).