Reborn Dolls: Hyperrealistic Baby Dolls Crafted in Modena

In Modena, Italy, Claudia Vezzali runs 'La culla dei sogni,' a workshop producing hyperrealistic Reborn dolls that mimic real newborns. The Reborn trend originated in the US in the 1980s-90s, evolving from modifying simple dolls into a sophisticated craft. Artists create limited-edition kits, and Vezzali transforms these into lifelike dolls through a meticulous process involving painting, weighting with micro-spheres, and hand-stitched mohair hair. Each doll takes up to three months to complete and costs from €400. Clients include enthusiasts, collectors, filmmakers, Alzheimer's caregivers, and women who treat them as real babies. Vezzali issues birth certificates with length and weight. The dolls evoke strong emotional responses, sometimes indignation from those unfamiliar with the art. The article, written by Silvia Camporesi, describes her visit with her eight-year-old daughter, who is a Reborn enthusiast, and their decision to order their first kit.