every year, in japan, more than 38.000 dolls recieve a proper funeral rite, the "ningyo-kuyo", a unique Memorial Service for Dolls to be Discarded after a long-time friendship with their human owners. 
 

This is because, unlike in the western world, in japan dolls are believed to have a soul. They are powerful protectors, and they take all the bad luck and pain of their owners away, keeping them safe. 

 

historically, it was customary for a child to take a doll to the temple as the child’s substitute to prevent anything bad befalling it. 

 

Haxan Dolls by Thora Keppel are meant to carry the same apotropic significance.

 

they are one of a kind poseable art dolls, handmade with love out of professional quality polymer clay and acrylic paint, without the use of any molds. they wear handpainted angora wool wigs from the sheeps of yorkshire, england, and jewellery made with old rosaries and buttons. their clothes are made with vintage fabrics, mostly italian night gowns.

 

haxan dolls are weird. They are misproportioned, often sad, always carrying a deep longing. They don't have a definable age. Most of them look like old children : pure and candid but burdened with a secret. 

 

haxan dolls are not toys.

 

they are vessels of meanings, stories and imagination and can be life time friends and protectors.