When I recently heard that my ex was remarrying, something inside me shifted. I had been content laying low, waiting, pondering. What was next for me? At a crossroads of sorts. What did I want for my life? Now the time had come...
The friendships I had made during the 15 years I had been in town were precious and brought many good things to me, not to mention, they had sustained me in difficult times. How could I possibly move away? But within days, I was looking at condos closer to work. My son also now needed a new place to live so we each bought a beautiful condo and became neighbors!
One of my favourite spaces in my new home is the Master bedroom. Of course, I don't actually sleep in it but it makes a pretty mean crafting studio (and my 2nd bedroom doesn't feel left out of the action cuz I sleep in
it!) Tons of storage and supplies make a happy me! The latest project was a handmade Amish doll, a special memento gift for a client's very first great-great niece and a nod to her Anabaptist heritage.
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| I'm told her name is Manitoba Mandy and will live in Ontario with Avery |
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I have included this following article by James Stuart to satisfy the curiosity of those who ask 'Why are Amish dolls faceless?' The first answer is
my favourite.
If you have ever seen an Amish doll, you may have noticed its
curious lack of a face. Although sources differ on the exact origin of
this tradition, most historians believe these dolls are not faceless for
any one reason, but rather for several, many of which relate back to
strict Amish religious tradition. Not every Amish doll is missing a
face, but the traditional faceless ones are the best-known.
Equality
One of the most important tenets of Amish religious tradition holds
that all people are the same in the eyes of God and should be treated
as equals. For this reason, many people believe Amish rag dolls were
created without faces. If a doll has no face, it is free of identity and
reinforces the notion of equality both within the Amish community and,
in a larger context, the human race.
Biblical Reasons
According to the Book of Deuteronomy in the Bible, people are
forbidden from creating graven images or idols. Amish teachings
interpret this to mean that no created objects, including dolls, should
be accurate representations of the human form. By creating a faceless
doll, children cannot regard the doll as a human likeness and thus
owning one is not a sin.
Vanity
Amish religious precepts also teach that vanity and pride are sins.
Many Amish individuals believe that represented likenesses, including
photographs, encourage vanity, and are therefore forbidden. Similarly,
creating a doll or toy with a human image creates an ideal image of the
human form and could encourage children to model themselves after this
image. This is why many people believe faceless dolls are an affirmation
of Amish modesty.
Collecting
Although most of the reasons cited for the faceless dolls are
religious or traditional, increased commercial interest provides a more
practical reason. In the early 20th Century, several individuals began
to express interest in purchasing the faceless Amish dolls and
opportunistic merchants begin to sell the dolls to collectors outside of
the Amish community. Although many Amish children are permitted to have
dolls with faces, interest from collectors encourages sellers to
continue making them with the traditional method.
About the Author
James Stuart began his professional writing career in 2010. He
traveled through Asia, Europe, and North America, and has recently
returned from Japan, where he worked as a freelance editor for several
English language publications. He looks forward to using his travel
experience in his writing. Stuart holds a Bachelor of Arts in English
and philosophy from the University of Toronto.
