Nel Little Museum of Dolls and Other Toys you can admire porcelain dolls, cloth dolls, celluloid dolls, papier-mâché dolls, but also dollhouses, small shops, and kitchens complete with dishes, pans, and cups. There are also constructions, plush animals, rocking horses, and a section dedicated to handcrafted dolls from various parts of the world. One section of the museum then tells the story of school life through the exhibition of some books, notebooks, reed pens, nibs, and inkwells, while another space is occupied by vintage clothing for children and infants. The museum is not meant to be merely a nostalgic journey into the past, but a comparison with ways of living and playing across different eras.
Founded in 2006, the little doll museum was born from the will of its founder, Graziella Gardini Pasini, to share her private collection of dolls and toys, gathered over decades. In the museum you can admire porcelain, cloth, celluloid, and paper dolls and other toys, produced between the mid-19th century and the mid-20th century. In the exhibit, the dolls have been placed in a dedicated miniature environment.
In this regard, there are dollhouses, kitchens, rooms complete with all kinds of furnishings—true “dollhouses.” The museum houses some important pieces from brands that made the history of dolls, such as Jumeau, Armand Marseille, Lenci, Kathe Kruse, Furga, Tartaruga, Minerva and a small collection of Kewpie. It should be noted that, in the small shop located at the museum entrance, you can buy not only the catalog but also publications and souvenirs.
