Why Do Amish Dolls Have No Faces?

With their plain clothing and a basic rag doll shape, Amish dolls have their own unique charm. Not unlike the Raggedy Ann and Holly Hobby dolls many of us grew up with, these dolls are beloved playthings cherished by little Amish girls. As with rag dolls the fabric and stuffing for these creations usually comes from scraps of other projects- a useful way to eliminate waste and bring joy to little ones. But, these beautiful dolls have no faces and if you’ve ever wondered why that is then read on.

The Amish dolls are given to girls as gifts and are almost always made by their female family members. The clothes the dolls wear reflects the clothing actual Amish wear- dark pants and hats with colorful solid colors for the main clothing. There are no patterns or zippers as this is what the Amish align with for themselves: plain clothing that does not make them stand out or interfere with their relationship to God and to the community.

For similar reasons the dolls do not have faces. This is said to represent the idea that “all are alike in God’s eyes” and it also is a way to thwart vanity. Dolls without faces are thought to discourage vain thinking or immodest behavior. Humility, piety, even conformity keep them from vain behaviors which is part of their deeply-held religious beliefs. These are the same rules that keep them from taking candid photos of themselves or wearing makeup or individualized clothing.

Another line of thinking is that some Amish do not believe that anyone can make people except for God, therefore people should not replicate faces on dolls and imitate his work.

These dolls will have their accessories and even some “belongings” like feed bags, suspenders, quilts, or other items (even beards sometimes!). But, they will not have faces. Even dolls that are for sale will not have faces, as many Amish communities sell their vegetables, baked goods, and even sewn items to non-Amish. Some Amish communities make their dolls with fingers or thumbs, but most do not.

Dolls bought from the store are not allowed, either, so Amish children typically children have no knowledge of dolls with faces.

There are many cultures that do not put faces on their dolls for similar reasons as the Amish, to encourage modest behavior and discourage vain behaviors- even during playtime. This unique aspect makes these dolls stand out in a world full of baby dolls, but that’s part of what makes them so appealing to collectors.