Vatican Museums

The item, which possibly originated from a catacomb, is evidence of the production of dolls in ivory, or more economically in bone, which appears to have developed at the height of the Roman imperial age. It belongs to the group of the most beautiful specimens, mostly in ivory and characterised by accurate rendering of the bodies with attention to anatomical detail, carefully carved facial features and refined hairstyles reflecting those in vogue at the time. The hairstyle of the Vatican doll, with waves flowing along the neck and gathered in a spiral pinned at the top of the head, is of the ‘helmet’ type and although broadly reminiscent of the hairstyles of the late Severan period, it has been linked to a series of female portraits of the tetrarchical period, allowing this small ivory artefact to be dated from the late third to early fourth century A.D.