Dokhtolook Doll

Dokhtolok – Qeshm’s Traditional Doll Listed as Iran’s Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Dokhtolok doll is one of the unique handicrafts of Qeshm Island, crafted by the women of Suhili Village from leftover dress fabrics. Recently registered in Iran’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, this doll symbolizes the local culture and the creativity of the region’s women.

Dokhtolok is not just a toy—it is an educational tool for passing down knowledge and skills of traditional life, local stories, and folk beliefs to children. Women of Suhili use this doll to narrate stories, rhymes, and village legends, thereby preserving and transmitting cultural identity to the next generation. The use of recycled fabrics in making Dokhtolok reflects a sustainable and inventive approach that has been kept alive as a lasting heritage to this day.

The doll’s registration as intangible heritage marks an important step in preserving and introducing the culture of the UNESCO Global Geopark Island of Qeshm. Dokhtolok is not only a piece of art but also a part of the island’s oral history and its traditional educational practices, still cherished in local families and in Suhili Village.

This simple doll has today become a symbol of the identity of Qeshm’s women and their creativity in keeping traditions alive.