MANEKIN

MANEKIN is a wooden domestic doll manufactured by IKEA of Sweden. Because of its low cost, it is a popular starter doll among college students and other young adults. With a height of 120cm (3′ 11″) it fits conveniently into cramped dorm rooms and twin beds and is suitable for many light domestic chores. It may require “uppies” to reach some items, so it’s recommended to keep a stepstool accessible.

Constructed largely of pressboard covered by veneers, MANEKIN is inexpensive but lacks durability or water resistance, rendering it unsuited to many outdoor tasks. This construction also greatly limits repairability and spare parts are rare. These factors, as well as the chaotic nature of college life, mean MANEKIN is often treated as disposable, and can be frequently found in the piles of discarded items left after move out on many campuses. Discarded MANEKIN are a common component of feral dollpacks, but their vulnerability to water damage means they seldom last long exposed to the elements before their limbs swell up and immobilize them.

Hobbyist dollcrafters often repurpose abandoned MANEKIN as a source of inexpensive heart cores for their custom designs. While cheap (or even free, depending on your local Doll Control Department’s policies) these cores often suffer from abandonment psychosis and require significant reconditioning before they are suitable for reuse.