Collector's items: Dolls are us

Dubai: Carla loves to party, Clowy watches over sleepy heads and Dorothy is the typical English grandmother sitting on a bench.

Rag dolls all, their "attitude" is unmistakable. "Some good, some daring and some funky. Like me, they reflect my personality," said their creator Maggie Tuite, participating in an exhibition of dolls that began in Dubai on Wednesday.

Over 200 traditional dolls from all over the world vied for attention as collectors and dollmakers introduced them to guests. The countries they came from included Bulgaria, Armenia, Africa, Jordan, India, China, England, Russia, France, Pakistan and the UAE.

Wearing rich costumes and ornaments, some were evocative of the baroque and rocco styles while others mirrored the folk culture.

French artist Christine Chaignot's handmade ceramics - sold exclusively at Scarabee - stood out for their workmanship, expression and colour schemes. Each was priced at Dh950, the artist's agent said.

A grumpy male doll with bagpipes by Bulgarian artist Maria Krasteva was also replete with character.

The largest collection was that of Livia Pingoy with 88 pieces. A Filipina national, she said she had collected these beauties from all over the world and her favourites were those from Bulgaria, Brazil, Lebanon, Palestine, Turkey and the UAE.

Jyotsna Nagarkar, a Dubai grandmother who collected ethnic dolls for her six-year-old granddaughter said, "My granddaughter loves jute dolls because she is pleating my hair all the time."

Titled Dolls Are Us and supported by the Dubai International Art Centre, the exhibition is being held at the Corp Executive Hotel Apartments, Al Barsha, until March 31.