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New Delhi’s international doll museum

Sputnik International

New Delhi’s doll museum is always crowded. Adults and children alike are enchanted by the museum’s collection. The doll museum in New Delhi is not just a... 26.05.2010, Sputnik International

2010-05-26T18:27+0000

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New Delhi’s international doll museum

18:27 GMT 26.05.2010

New Delhi’s doll museum is always crowded. Adults and children alike are enchanted by the museum’s collection. The doll museum in New Delhi is not just a collection of toys, but a wonderful story of India and the world.

© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy PakhomovNew Delhi’s doll museum is always crowded. Adults and children alike are enchanted by the museum’s collection. The doll museum in New Delhi is not just a collection of toys, but a wonderful story of India and the world.

New Delhi’s international doll museum - Sputnik International

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The collection was founded in the 1960s, and now contains dolls from 73 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia.

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Dolls from former Soviet countries have a large showcase all to themselves in Shankar's International Dolls Museum, as it is officially known.

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The museum’s founders collected items that show the national dress, history and everyday life of different countries.

© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy PakhomovBut the crown jewels of the museum are a unique collection of dolls representing various peoples and cultures of South Asia. This collection also depicts ancient Indian traditions. Photo: Dolls dancing a classical South Indian dance-drama called Kathakali.

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But the crown jewels of the museum are a unique collection of dolls representing various peoples and cultures of South Asia. This collection also depicts ancient Indian traditions. Photo: Dolls dancing a classical South Indian dance-drama called Kathakali.

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Dollmakers pay special attention to detail: each outfit must be elaborately designed and be similar to its real-life equivalent.

© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy PakhomovMuseum curator Shanta Srinivasan (pictured) says that the collection contains about 6,500 items. The museum was founded by renowned political cartoonist K. Shankar Pillai in 1965. He was a great lover of dolls, and his collection formed the starting point for the museum.

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Museum curator Shanta Srinivasan (pictured) says that the collection contains about 6,500 items. The museum was founded by renowned political cartoonist K. Shankar Pillai in 1965. He was a great lover of dolls, and his collection formed the starting point for the museum.

© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy PakhomovThe museum buys or trades for foreign dolls, but makes the majority of Indian-styled dolls itself, in an adjoining doll workshop. Photo: Dolls wearing wedding dresses from different regions of India made in the workshop.

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The museum buys or trades for foreign dolls, but makes the majority of Indian-styled dolls itself, in an adjoining doll workshop. Photo: Dolls wearing wedding dresses from different regions of India made in the workshop.

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“Each doll has a different face, and we believe that each doll has a character of its own as well,” Srinivasan says with a smile.

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The dolls located under a statue of the Hindu dancing god Shiva Nataraja depict various styles of Indian dance.

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A doll dancing in the classical Bharatanatyam style.

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Dollmakers at Shankar's International Dolls Museum find inspiration for new dolls – like this musician playing the veena – in everyday life.

© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy PakhomovThe workshop, which was originally founded to repair broken dolls, now produces dolls for collectors. This Brahmin will be soon displayed with the other dolls in the museum.

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The workshop, which was originally founded to repair broken dolls, now produces dolls for collectors. This Brahmin will be soon displayed with the other dolls in the museum.