The Dollmaker’s Daughter: The Forgotten Horror Behind Pinocchio

In 1882 Tuscany, a recluse named Giuseppe Collodi lost his daughter, Lucia, to scarlet fever. Overcome with despair, he began sculpting dolls that resembled her. At first, they were crude. Then… disturbingly lifelike.

His neighbors whispered that he’d begun experimenting with embalming fluids and rare resins — substances used by taxidermists. They stopped visiting when strange music began emanating from his workshop at night.

When police entered months later, they found dozens of life-sized puppets hanging from the rafters. All had human teeth. One was still warm.

Pinned to a door was a letter in Collodi’s handwriting:

“She moves when I lie.”

The locals burned the house, but witnesses swore they saw a small figure wandering the forest for weeks — barefoot, with glass eyes that reflected the moonlight.