Inside Rome's eerie 'hospital for broken dolls'
Tucked away in one of Rome's most fashionable shopping districts, antique doll parts pile up in the tiny shopfront of the Squatriti family boutique, offering a window into another age.
Neapolitan theatre actors forced to diversify in the aftermath of the Second World War, the Squatritis opened the little shop of doll horrors in 1953, initially with the idea of restoring valuables belonging to wealthy families that were damaged during the conflict. But they quickly began to specialize in antique dolls, some dating back to the 19th century.
"With the economic boom, our business expanded: the first collectors appeared, the small collections... people started to want to repair old objects," said Federico Squatriti. "The store grew like that."
Frederico at his workbench. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP
READ ALSO: Italy to scrap free monthly museum entry
Federico, 56, runs the shop that has been a true family affair ever since it first opened.
His grandmother, parents, uncle and cousins have all worked there at one time or another, restoring treasured objects of princesses, intellectuals and actors to their former glory. The workshop overflows with objects long forgotten by customers. Puppets, toy soldiers and 100-year-old earthenware pile up to the ceiling.
Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP
READ ALSO: Why you've never heard of Italy's best museum
"The thing they (the dolls) all have are eyes pushed inside (the head), because children always stick their fingers in there," he adds.
Despite their expertise, there are some dolls that just can't be repaired, usually because spare parts can't be found. These half-formed relics have come to populate the shopfront window, the store's shelves and in particular its macabre cellar, which is populated with doll body parts and has been nicknamed "limbo" by the staff.
Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP
The Squatriti family say that there are only a handful of restorers like them left in Italy, and that customers come not just from all over the country, but as far away as London or Africa.
However, the family know that the writing is on the wall for the shop.
"Things change, transform, evolve and come to an end," says Federico. "It is normal that eras end. We have tried to extend ours to the maximum but the end will eventually arrive."
READ ALSO: From taps to ancient erotica, Italy's 15 strangest museums
Comments
See Also
Neapolitan theatre actors forced to diversify in the aftermath of the Second World War, the Squatritis opened the little shop of doll horrors in 1953, initially with the idea of restoring valuables belonging to wealthy families that were damaged during the conflict. But they quickly began to specialize in antique dolls, some dating back to the 19th century.
"With the economic boom, our business expanded: the first collectors appeared, the small collections... people started to want to repair old objects," said Federico Squatriti. "The store grew like that."
Frederico at his workbench. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP
READ ALSO: Italy to scrap free monthly museum entry
Federico, 56, runs the shop that has been a true family affair ever since it first opened.
His grandmother, parents, uncle and cousins have all worked there at one time or another, restoring treasured objects of princesses, intellectuals and actors to their former glory. The workshop overflows with objects long forgotten by customers. Puppets, toy soldiers and 100-year-old earthenware pile up to the ceiling.
Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP
READ ALSO: Why you've never heard of Italy's best museum
"The thing they (the dolls) all have are eyes pushed inside (the head), because children always stick their fingers in there," he adds.
Despite their expertise, there are some dolls that just can't be repaired, usually because spare parts can't be found. These half-formed relics have come to populate the shopfront window, the store's shelves and in particular its macabre cellar, which is populated with doll body parts and has been nicknamed "limbo" by the staff.
Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP
The Squatriti family say that there are only a handful of restorers like them left in Italy, and that customers come not just from all over the country, but as far away as London or Africa.
However, the family know that the writing is on the wall for the shop.
"Things change, transform, evolve and come to an end," says Federico. "It is normal that eras end. We have tried to extend ours to the maximum but the end will eventually arrive."
READ ALSO: From taps to ancient erotica, Italy's 15 strangest museums
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.