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HISTORY OF DOLLS

Archaeological evidence places dolls as foremost candidate for oldest known toy, having been found in Egyptian tombs which date to as early as 2000 BC. In Egypt, as well as Greece and Rome, it was common to find them in the graves of children. Most were made of wood, although pottery dolls were buried with children from wealthier families. Dolls with movable limbs and removable clothing date back to 600 BCE. 
Europe later became the center of dollmaking. In the United States, dollmaking became an industry in the 1860s, after the Civil War. The development of plastics after World War II led to the manufacture of new types of dolls and brought down their price. Dolls have featured in modern art and fine art photography, notably in surrealist works.
The "evil doll" has been a feature of horror literature, horror films and animation since the 1950's. In Japan and South Korea, fashion doll collecting is on the rise, and even popular among adults.