11/04/2026
I walk to American thrift and antique shops in the middle of nowhere always looking for something familiar. And I'm always greeted by something from my beloved
One time I found a framed papyrus, another time I found a tray, a coffee pot, and today I found this doll. Every single detail here says Egypt. The pottery Ballas for fetching water from the Nile river, the particular pattern on her black shawl, the giant beaded Kerdan, and of course the particular Fallahi/farmer style of her dress. She looks like home. Like so many people I grew up around in our market in Cairo. When I searched for the history, it turned out that these handmade crafted vintage dolls were popular souvenirs from Egypt in the 1970s and 1980s. She could easily be 50 years old. What should I name this hagga? 😊❤️🥹