great contest
here's my entry ...though not sure if it qualifies or not as you mentioned in rules 'one doll on its own' but sorry these come in pair only...
anyways here it goes...
KathPutli-Rajasthani String Dolls/Puppets
Rajasthani string dolls are one of the most vibrant aspects of Indian culture.The tradition of handmade string dolls of Rajasthan is more than a thousand years old. It is known as 'Kaathputli' .
These handmade wooden puppet dolls are much more than just plaything or decorative dolls. They are a part of the traditional performance of puppetry – narrating an event from history, myths, folklore or legend, complete with music and speech. They are the repository of traditional wisdom, knowledge and social mores. Within them are contained the oral history of the region.
The head of the dolls are carved out of wood and coloured according to characters they depict in the episodes. Strings are attached to the head for manipulation. The faces are usually painted yellow, white or any light colour. The body, upto the waist and hands, is made of stuffed rags, cotton or cloth bits. The hands have no joints unlike the other string puppet dolls of India.The absence of legs are not noticed due the long trailing skirt made of colorful cloth.
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