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A l’ « hôpital des poupées », ces jouets délicats sont restaurés ou collectionnés avec soin et affection depuis déjà cinq générations, à l’étage d’une minuscule échoppe située en plein cœur du vieux Lisbonne.
Disposant même d’une « fiche patient », les poupées y sont confiées aux soins des mains habiles de trois « doctoresses » qui leur remettent un œil, un bras ou une chevelure neuve choisis avec minutie parmi des centaines de « pièces détachées », rangées dans de petits tiroirs à fenêtre.
Attachement sentimental
L’établissement fondé en 1830 est décrit dans les guides touristiques comme un des plus anciens « hôpitaux de poupées » encore en activité, ou alors comme un des dix magasins de jouets les plus passionnants au monde.
Flattée par cette notoriété, la propriétaire des lieux, Manuela Cutileiro, reste pourtant modeste. « Nous faisons notre travail dans notre petit coin, sans nous soucier des records et des statistiques », relativise-t-elle.
Sa clientèle est composée par « des musées et des collectionneurs, mais surtout des particuliers qui sont sentimentalement attachés à ces objets », explique cette ancienne éducatrice d’enfants, aujourd’hui âgée de 72 ans.
L’histoire de cette entreprise familiale a commencé au XIX siècle, quand « une vielle petite dame », Carlota da Silva Luz, s’occupait à fabriquer des poupées en chiffon, assise devant la porte de son herboristerie au n°7 de la Praça da Figueira, où se tenait alors un grand marché en plein air.
Hors du temps
Au fil du temps, les herbes aromatiques et médicinales ont cédé la place aux poupées qui aujourd’hui remplissent la vitrine de l’échoppe, mais aussi tout un musée dédié à elles au premier étage.
Quelque 4 000 poupées sont exposées jusqu’au plafond et à même le sol des pièces jouxtant l’atelier où sont soignées les « malades ». On y trouve des poupées centenaires à la tête en porcelaine, des maisons de poupées, une collection de poupées arborant les costumes traditionnels des différentes régions du Portugal, et aussi quelques Barbies plus modernes.
Le lieu semble figé dans le temps, créant une ambiance propice au labeur des artisanes. « Même si cela exige à nos clients d’être patients, nous tenons à ce que le temps ici passe moins vite qu’à l’extérieur », relève Manuela Cutileiro.
Dolls in plastic bags wait to be delivered after being repaired at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon on December 12, 2017. These delicate toys have been restored or collected with care and affection for five generations, at the "Doll Hospital", a tiny repair shop located in the heart of old Lisbon downtown. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Thomas CABRAL
A mannequin is displayed in front of shelves of doll parts at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon on December 12, 2017. These delicate toys have been restored or collected with care and affection for five generations, at the "Doll Hospital", a tiny repair shop located in the heart of old Lisbon downtown. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Thomas CABRAL
A picture shows doll heads inside a drawer at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon on December 12, 2017. These delicate toys have been restored or collected with care and affection for five generations, at the "Doll Hospital", a tiny repair shop located in the heart of old Lisbon downtown. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Thomas CABRAL
A picture shows doll hands inside a drawer at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon on December 12, 2017. These delicate toys have been restored or collected with care and affection for five generations, at the "Doll Hospital", a tiny repair shop located in the heart of old Lisbon downtown. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Thomas CABRAL
A picture shows doll heads inside a drawer at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon on December 12, 2017. These delicate toys have been restored or collected with care and affection for five generations, at the "Doll Hospital", a tiny repair shop located in the heart of old Lisbon downtown. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Thomas CABRAL
A tag with instructions is attached to the feet of a doll waiting to be repaired at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon on December 12, 2017. These delicate toys have been restored or collected with care and affection for five generations, at the "Doll Hospital", a tiny repair shop located in the heart of old Lisbon downtown. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Thomas CABRAL
Dolls wait to be repaired at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon on December 12, 2017. These delicate toys have been restored or collected with care and affection for five generations, at the "Doll Hospital", a tiny repair shop located in the heart of old Lisbon downtown. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Thomas CABRAL
A picture shows dolls and a doll house at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon on December 12, 2017. These delicate toys have been restored or collected with care and affection for five generations, at the "Doll Hospital", a tiny repair shop located in the heart of old Lisbon downtown. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Thomas CABRAL
A woman repairs a doll at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon on December 12, 2017. These delicate toys have been restored or collected with care and affection for five generations, at the "Doll Hospital", a tiny repair shop located in the heart of old Lisbon downtown. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Thomas CABRAL
A doll waits to be repaired at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon on December 12, 2017. These delicate toys have been restored or collected with care and affection for five generations, at the "Doll Hospital", a tiny repair shop located in the heart of old Lisbon downtown. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Thomas CABRAL
A woman repairs a doll at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon on December 12, 2017. These delicate toys have been restored or collected with care and affection for five generations, at the "Doll Hospital", a tiny repair shop located in the heart of old Lisbon downtown. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Thomas CABRAL
Dolls are displayed at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon on December 12, 2017. These delicate toys have been restored or collected with care and affection for five generations, at the "Doll Hospital", a tiny repair shop located in the heart of old Lisbon downtown. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Thomas CABRAL
A picture shows doll heads at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon on December 12, 2017. These delicate toys have been restored or collected with care and affection for five generations, at the "Doll Hospital", a tiny repair shop located in the heart of old Lisbon downtown. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Thomas CABRAL
Several Barbie dolls waiting to be repaired lie on a net at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon on December 12, 2017. These delicate toys have been restored or collected with care and affection for five generations, at the "Doll Hospital", a tiny repair shop located in the heart of old Lisbon downtown. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Thomas CABRAL
Manuela Cutileiro, owner of the Doll Hospital, dresses up a doll in front of drawers of doll parts at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon on December 12, 2017. These delicate toys have been restored or collected with care and affection for five generations, at the "Doll Hospital", a tiny repair shop located in the heart of old Lisbon downtown. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Thomas CABRAL
Le Quotidien/AFP
