Tbilisi Toys and Dolls Museum, Folk toys and dolls museum in Tbilisi, Georgia.
The Tbilisi Toys and Dolls Museum is a collection of traditional Georgian dolls, mechanical toys, international artifacts, and rare furniture displayed across multiple exhibition rooms. The items range from handcrafted pieces to manufactured objects representing various countries and time periods.
The museum was founded in 1937 by children's writer Tinatin Tumanishvili and initially opened in a nursery school on Atarbegov Street in Tbilisi. Over time, the collection expanded and moved to different locations while maintaining its role as a repository of toy-making traditions.
The collection displays traditional Georgian folk dolls called Dedofalas alongside dolls from Japan, China, and Europe, each reflecting distinct cultural traditions. This diverse selection allows visitors to compare craft styles and toy-making practices from different parts of the world.
It helps to check availability beforehand since the museum is undergoing renovation in a new building. Plan time to explore all the exhibition rooms at a leisurely pace, as the collection contains many items worth examining closely.
Master constructor Raphael Begtabegishvili created mechanical musical toys for the museum, including a doll that plays piano and Georgian dancer figures. These handcrafted mechanisms demonstrate the skill of Georgian craftspeople and are examples of rare toy artistry.
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