Seven Dolls
Seven dolls, late 20th century AD, Fabric, wood and plastic, h. various, but tallest is 24 cm
These seven dolls are tourist items which are sold to people who visit Lebanon. Two of the figures have the words on the wooden bases, ‘Souvenir du Liban’, which is French for ‘A memory of Lebanon’. One female figure has on the base the words, ‘Souvenir – Lebanon’. The two seated figures have on the base the words ‘Lebanon’ in English, and also Arabic words. They represent people from the region of the village in traditional dress. Such dress may have been frequent in Toula a century ago, but now people wear western dress. Such traditional dress is not frequently found in Lebanon these days.
One standing figure of a woman is carrying water from the well, while another is playing a tambourine. One standing figure of a man is playing a drum. Two seated figures are women preparing food. The two men wear traditional hats and the women’s heads are veiled in a traditional manner. Thus, the figures represent traditional gender roles for men and women.