Traditional Anatolian dolls in demand as gift

A villager in Sivas is producing dolls using wood and other materials. The dolls receive great interest from people and are sent to foreign countries, too An old Turkish woman living in the central Anatolian province of Sivas’ Karacaören village is producing wood dolls and clothing them with traditional dresses. Gülizar Sağlam, 62, sells the dolls to guests visiting the village and sends them to foreign countries.

Sağlam learned how to cut trees by working with her carpenter husband for some time, has been producing wooden dolls for nearly four years with a simple method she invented. She makes the body of the wooden doll and covers it with unused fabric pieces. She uses plastic materials for the head and hands and uses traditional dresses for their clothing. Every doll is given a different name and Sağlam sells them mostly to families who live abroad, but also to those who come to visit the village.

She develops the wood using a simple cutting and nailing process. She said the first doll she made was life-sized and was able to dress it with her own clothing. “Later, I made a few more dolls and people wanted to buy them, but I did not want to let them go. I sell what I produce and earn my pocket money. I supported my husband’s expenses when he was being treated in the hospital,” she said.

Explaining how she produces the dolls, she says: “I choose the woods from unspoiled trees. I first cut the wood for different body parts, I cut hands and legs. I make arms using wire. I only prepare the head and hands. I cover the wooden legs and arms with fabric or sponges and strengthen them with rope. Finally, I attach the head and hands and dress them up with clothes. After...