The traditional culture of Khanty and Mansi has developed a universal and harmonious system of upbringing. Games and toys were used to pass from generation to generation the knowledge, skills and abilities important for future hunters, reindeer herders, fishermen and housewives. Children learned to make their own toys and various objects at an early age.
Boys learned to work with wood, creating toy boats, and girls had to deal with fur processing in the course of doll making. Thus, toys developed the children’s emotional sphere and creative abilities, preparing them for adult life.
The main toy for girls of Khanty and Mansi people was an Akan doll. Its face was not painted. It was believed that spirits could possess objects with faces, and it was strictly forbidden to play with such things. In some cases, the doll also lacked legs and arms. Such a faceless doll was considered safe for a child and served as an amulet.
At first, the dolls were made by the mother, grandmother or older sister. When a girl got a little older, she not only started to create dolls herself, but also made clothes and jewelry for them, gradually learning sewing. The girls tried to realistically portray the traditional clothing of their people, making the dolls’ design more complex from year to year.
It was believed that a girl who could mold and sew toys well would be a good housewife. Therefore, the bride was judged, among other things, by the toys she made. Some Khanty dolls had bird beaks, like the museum exhibit. Researchers noted that such birds as the goose and the duck symbolized woman and childbearing. That is, in the course of the game, the girl was introduced to the role of a mother. According to folk belief, interaction with such a doll gave an opportunity to have children in the future.
The museum doll was sewn
by hand with oblique stitches using sinew threads. The coat was made of
reindeer fur, light-colored on top and reddish underneath. A strip of red cloth
braid was also used to create the item. This piece was made near the village of
Taly-Pogol, Tobolsk governorate, in the lower reaches of the Ob River.
