pupazzi

Pupazzi is the plural of pupazzo, an Italian noun that broadly refers to dolls, puppets, or figurines. In ordinary usage, it can denote toys for children such as soft, fabric-based dolls as well as small decorative figures made from porcelain, ceramic, plastic, or wood. The term covers both playthings and display pieces, and it is commonly used in Italy and Italian-speaking communities to describe objects that resemble human or animal forms.

In a theatre or performance context, Italian speakers most often use burattini or marionette for specific types of puppets, but pupazzi can appear in casual speech or popular culture to refer to puppets in a general sense or to puppet-like figures used in decor or parades. Collectors and museums may classify pupazzi by material and era, for example pupazzi di porcellana (porcelain dolls), pupazzi di pezza (fabric dolls), or pupazzi di plastica (plastic figurines).

Historically, pupazzi have appeared across Europe with varied designs. Porcelain dolls became prized collectibles in the 18th and 19th centuries, while 20th-century mass-made dolls broadened the scope of what could be called pupazzi. In modern contexts, the term is also used by toy manufacturers, artists, and curators in branding or descriptions to evoke nostalgia or whimsy without strict specificity.