Doll Makers and Paper Dolls

My Book of Little House Paper Dolls: The Big Woods Collection

Dolls are often intended as toys for children but other uses of dolls include as a keepsake or collectible item for any age, such as older children or adults. However, dolls are also used because of their cultural significance, sometimes in ceremonies or rituals, or even as a physical representation of a deity. Lifelike dolls can be used for professional use (see anatomically correct doll). Artists' mannequins are also known as "artists' dolls." Dolls with action figure-like articulation and removable clothing are sometimes referred to as "action dolls."

Dolls have been around for far longer than most would think, archaeological evidence placing dolls as foremost candidate for oldest known toy, having been found in Egyptian tombs which date to as early as 2000 BC. In Egypt, as well as Greece and Rome, it was common to find them in the graves of children, these were mainly made from wood, however, among the wealthier families, pottery dolls were also found.

Many suggest that dolls were around even before 2000 BC, going further back to prehistoric times, and were probably made from materials such as clay, mud, fur, wood, etc."
Information found at: Wikipedia