Dolls have been seen as play toys, girls’ best friends and now, in a new exhibit, they can be seen as pieces of art.

The Brunnier Art Museum is currently displaying a collection of almost 400 rare and antique dolls, which have not been shown to the public in almost four years.

The dolls were donated to Iowa State by Ann Brunnier in the 1970s, along with a few thousand pieces of ceramics, jade, ivory and glassware.

Mary Atherly, collections manager at the Brunnier Art Museum, said China head, bisque head and mechanical dolls are just some of the many on display.

“To me, they’re fun, they’re interesting, they’re a slice of life,” she said about the dolls.

The exhibit features dolls representing well-known celebrity figures, including Shirley Temple, Queen Elizabeth II, the Little Rascals and Charlie Chaplin.

Atherly said the collection also includes the intricate peddler dolls that were made in the 1830s, representing the actual peddlers on the street from that era.

They have tiny wire-framed bodies with painted leather faces, carrying small baskets of cards, books and live chickens.

“They are so fascinating,” Atherly said, leaning over the case. “Who buys a live chicken today? Who would do that?”

She added that seeing the dolls can be a learning experience especially for history and textiles and clothing majors, but they are entertaining for all students as well.

Also on display is a large collection of traditional Japanese festival dolls, which have even impressed some visitors from Japan.

Dana Michels, curatorial assistant at the Brunnier Art Museum, said a group of Japanese visitors from Ames’ sister city of Enzan, Japan were touring the museum in late August.

Although the dolls are quite common in their country, she said the Japanese visitors were “ooh-ing and ah-ing” as they rounded the corner in the museum.

“I think they were very impressed to see such a large collection of these dolls outside of Japan.” Michels said. “In Japan, most people have mainly just the emperor and the empress.”

Ann Brunnier decided to donate the doll collection to ISU because her husband Henry was an Iowa State alumnus.

She began collecting the dolls in 1915 after purchasing a small Hawaiian doll, and her collection grew whenever she and her husband traveled.

The Brunniers were involved in Rotary International and the American Automobile Association, and Ann collected dolls from every country they visited.

In fact, it was Ann’s collection of dolls and various other pieces that actually started the Brunnier Art Museum.

The dolls will be on display until the beginning of January before being tucked away in their conservation boxes.

Atherly said the fiber and dolls’ textiles have to rest. “They cannot be on display for long periods of time,” she said.

The Brunnier Dolls are on display Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday evenings from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.