Collection of the Accursed - Dolls & Toys

Pediophobia, or the fear of dolls, is believed to be a type of automatonophobia, or fear of humanoid figures. In other words, dolls are creepy!

I've already mentioned Annabelle in an earlier entry. There are so many other kinds!

You may have seen dolls from the beginning of the 20th century that look like this:

These are called "composition dolls" and are made from sawdust mixed with glue, then heavily lacquered. They were harder to destroy than porcelain dolls. Changes in moisture and temperature over the years causes fine cracks called crazing to form. Sometimes the "skin" will peel away from the dollhead. This makes them really start to look creepy as Hell. :-) Sawdust clay is simple to make and can be pressed into molds to make, well, anything you like! 

Wooden figures are common throughout history.

The sawdust clay could be molded and painted to resemble primitive dolls with no carving skill required! 

Long before the Pilgrims arrived in America, American Indians made corn husk dolls.

The colonists took up the practice later, too, and these dolls were still fairly common even into the 20th century. Cornhusk dolls are easy to make and can fit into a number of stories from different eras. 

Any discussion about cursed dolls must eventually get to effigies known as voodoo dolls!

There are many, many designs for these dolls. We all know the story about how they are used. What many do not know is that effigies used to curse people can be found in cultures all over the world! The term "poppets" refers to any doll in quasi-human form intended to curse or control. Poppets are more general that true voodoo dolls, since they do not require a piece of the victim's hair or clothing.

While it is cool to have a "voodoo doll" in the collection, why not include an poppet said to have come from Borneo, or Mongolia, Japan, Uruguay, or India? 

 Of course, literally any doll can be cursed. It could be Raggedy Anne, a random porcelain doll, Barbie, or any random doll found at a yard sale or thrift store. Personally, I would want most of my dolls to look creepy, but they certainly do not all have to be. 

Happy Halloween!