Paper Doll Costume, Paper Doll Costume with Muff and Blue Cloak, 1840–60 (CH 18344261)

Paper dolls are figures cut out of paper, with separate clothes, that can be dressed and undressed. They have been popular toys for children, as well as collectors' items, for many centuries. The origins of paper dolls can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where tomb paintings depict children playing with paper dolls. In medieval Europe, paper dolls were also popular, and were often used as teaching tools to instruct young girls in the art of sewing and clothing design. Paper dolls became especially popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries when they were mass-produced and sold as cheap toys. Many popular children's books and magazines featured paper dolls as inserts or bonuses, and girls would often spend hours playing with them and creating new outfits for their dolls. Today, paper dolls are still popular, although they are not as widespread as they once were. They continue to be collected by enthusiasts and are often used as a creative outlet for artists and designers.