Freckles

Marina Bychkova's doll.

It looks so real it is upsetting. A real woman trapped inside a tiny porcelain body. Her lifetime of stories and words pinned on her face, yet she cannot speak.

I feel more comfortable when a doll comes with a guilt-free certificate; then you can swing her by the leg, cut her hair and put silly clothes on her. This doll demands your respect and gets it without effort. She looks experienced, wise, tortured even and you can do nothing but stare, pamper her and wonder if you are keeping her happy.

These dolls are pure witchcraft.

If these were the middle ages, they would have been thrown in the pyre or hidden inside secret stone vaults. One or two would have survived the Inquisition. They would be afraid to break them open in the case of evil spirits being released in the world, so they would put bury them.

Some of them would be put on altars and be the witnesses of blood sacrifices and prayers. Holy men would steal them for their pleasure.. and fall madly in love with them.

These dolls provoke inspiration.