THE HISTORY OF DOLLS in the Western World with Lila Rait

This talk will examine the history of dolls in the western world from the earliest surviving Roman rag doll (1st century CE) to the 20th century. It illustrates the changing role of children in society and charts the rise and distribution of industrial production throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.

Lila Rait is the author of Through the Nursery Window: A History of Antique and Collectable Dolls in Australia, 1788–1950. She has collected dolls and doll houses for more than 40 years and is regarded as one of the leading experts in Australia.