Here are two π» examples of paddle dolls – contrary to popular belief, these were not toys used by children ππππ¦ (as a kid I thought they were dolls that Egyptian ππππ children ππππ¦ played with)!
A paddle doll is usually made of a flat piece of wood π±ππΊ that shows a very rough representation of a head πΆπΊ, face, neck and torso of usually a woman πππππ. The bodies of the paddle dolls are usually pained in various designs, which are thought to represent either textile patterns or tattoos! The βbeadsβ that you see coming off of the head πΆπΊ are made of mud pellets, which is representative of hair π²ππ. They would also make noise when shaken, similarly to that of a sistrum πππππ£. Sometimes paddle dolls are associated with the goddess πΉπ Hathor π‘ because of this!
The shape of the body (which is noticeably missing legs) is thought to be similar/representative of the menat necklace π ππππ§ that is usually worn by women ππππππ¦ during religious ceremonies. These paddle dolls, were thought to be part of religious ceremonies due to this connection. It is also possible that these dolls were used as fertility figures, as some of them have been found with painted images of Taweret ππΏπ ©πππ or Bes ππ΄π; both deities are associated with fertility.
The paddle dolls in this picture ππ ±πare dated to Dynasties 11-13 of the Middle Kingdom (c. 2081-1700 B.C.E.).