Articulated Ivory Doll
Dublin Core
Title
Articulated Ivory Doll
Subject
Articulated Ivory Doll, 3rd – 4th century, Late Roman, Tarragona, Spain, ivory, 23 x 6.5 x 1.5cm, Tarragona, Spain, National Archeological Museum of Tarragona.
Description
Museum Description: “An ivory doll with articulated arms and legs. Found in the sarcophagus of a young girl in the Early Christian Necropolis of Tarragona.
It would have been part of the grave goods of the girl, who died at the age of five or six. We know of other examples of Roman articulated dolls made with different materials such as bone, ivory and, most commonly, pottery (most of them found fragmented). The remains of gold thread found next to the piece confirm that, like today, these dolls were dressed in clothes that imitated those of children and adults. This is one of the most emblematic items of Tarragona archaeology.”
It would have been part of the grave goods of the girl, who died at the age of five or six. We know of other examples of Roman articulated dolls made with different materials such as bone, ivory and, most commonly, pottery (most of them found fragmented). The remains of gold thread found next to the piece confirm that, like today, these dolls were dressed in clothes that imitated those of children and adults. This is one of the most emblematic items of Tarragona archaeology.”
Source
https://www.mnat.cat/en/artwork/24/articulated-ivory-doll/
Publisher
National Archeological Museum of Tarragona MNAT P-12906
Files
Collection
Citation
“Articulated Ivory Doll,” HAA Image Hosting, accessed June 9, 2026, https://haaimagehosting.omeka.fas.harvard.edu/items/show/366.
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