The Making of a Traditional Hungarian Folqa Doll
The traditional miniature Folqa Doll is a nod to Omorovicza’s rich Hungarian heritage. Each figurine is handcrafted in Budapest, and embodies everything Omorovicza stands for; craftsmanship, curiosity and joyful eccentricity.
To this day, the Folqa Dolls are handmade, hand painted and one of a kind. We spoke to the artisans behind the dolls about their rich history, heritage and the elaborate process anchored in generations of tradition.
What is the story behind the Folqa dolls?
The story of the Folqa dolls begins with Juhász-Váczi Heni, who is a well-travelled, creative woman. While she was on maternity leave, she had the idea of creating a unique design souvenir for Hungary. She wanted to create something truly Hungarian and that’s how the Folqa brand was born - with the first doll called Margaret. The project aimed to celebrate Hungarian traditions and launched with a collection of eleven dolls like the Wrangler, the Vintner, the Shepherd, the Thatcher and the Miner.
How have the Folqa dolls evolved over the years?
When I took over the business, I was inspired by Hungarian traditions and our beautiful, ornate, and colorful folk costumes. My main intention is to show off the richness of these folk costumes while also educating kids. It’s important to us that these dolls are playful, unique, easy to handle, lightweight, perfect dolls that still carry cultural significance. We did a lot of research for this, focusing on folk costumes, authentically presenting the motifs, colors, and the heritage of these folk costumes.
How is a traditional Folqa Doll made?
The Folqa Dolls are made by first selecting the material, usually we use alder wood, and then cutting it down to size, lathing it, sanding it and then assembling it. We use alder wood because it is much silkier and can be sanded, varnished and polished beautifully.
How long does it usually take to make a Folqa Doll?
There are several phases of making a doll, starting with the cutting, the grinding, the sanding, the assembling, which probably takes about 5-10 minutes per doll. Then comes the detailed painting and the lathe.
What qualities and skills are needed to make a craft doll?
It takes a lot of experience. It can take years to perfect it and get to a place where you’re doing it beautifully. You don't have to be educated, it's more about manual dexterity, so that if you have manual dexterity, you can learn it over a long period of time.
Are there any special techniques or methods used here in the workshop?
This is now the third generation of this workshop and of course we have our own techniques. We usually sharpen the tools; we make the templates. We have our own techniques and many years of experience that make our doll special.
Why did you become a lathe operator?
Because of my father, I grew up in the workshop when I was a child and I started to love the profession.
What do you like most about your job?
Well… many things including how beautiful things can be made from a piece of wood, unique things. If you put just a little imagination into it, you can make wonderful things from it. It’s the joy of creation.
Are there any Folqa Dolls you have made that were more special for you or do you have a favorite?
We love to make them because, especially after painting, they are already very nice, showy dolls. We like to see people like what we do.
Limited Edition Bag Charm
Omorovicza x BEEN London
We have partnered with sustainable label BEEN London to create a covetable handbag accessory for AW24.
Available in a limited quantity, this eye-catching leather handbag charm doubles up as a keyring and features a travel-size Queen of Hungary Mist, in addition to a hand-painted miniature Folqa Doll.
