These obstetrical dolls from 19th-century Edo (modern-day Tokyo) were used to educate midwives on the delivery of babies, as well as to entertain the public at sideshow carnivals known as misemono. Realistic and articulated, some of them even included models of the fetus in various stages of its development.
My heart did a little leap, because I have found you blog 🙂
@ Pania: Aww, thank you kindly!