• Doll
Doll
Doll

Object ID
2004.9.13.B
Object Name
Doll
Material
Plastic; Polyester
Object Description
Small male doll wearing a white pleated skirt (probably a fustanella), a blue vest trimmed with gold fabric and thread, white stockings with black tassels, and black shoes. Doll's costume is supposed to replicate that of a evzone. Has black hair that is topped with a red fez that has a long black tassel. His body is made of plastic and polyester but his face has been covered in fabric and his facial features have been painted accordingly.
Origin
The costume that the doll models is meant to evoke that of the evzones. Evzone is the name of several historical elite light infantry and mountain units of the Greek Army. Today, it refers to the members of the Presidential Guard, an elite ceremonial unit that guards the Greek Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Presidential Mansion, and the gate of Evzones camp in Athens.

The unit is famous around the world for its unique traditional uniform, which has evolved from the clothes worn by the klephts, who fought the Ottoman occupation of Greece. The most visible item of this uniform is the fustanella, a kilt-like garment. Their proven valour and peculiar dress turned them into a popular image for the Greek soldier, especially among foreigners.

Though this doll presents a more stylized version of the uniform, it is likely that his costume was chosen for its popularity, especially in its context as a souviner object.
Rights and Reproduction
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Citation
Doll, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/7328. Accessed 04/26/24.