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Doll Collecting – Why We Do It

I have always found dolls and bears appealing as collectibles because a person can hug them. With a collection of fine stained glass or metal objects, one doesn’t have that same freedom. Glass is cold. Bears’ fur is soft and warm. Humor aside, another advantage for the doll collector is being the "parent" to a "child" whose psyche can’t be warped with poor parenting skills or lack of experience. Dolls don’t care if they sit on the bed or a shelf for weeks. Dolls aren’t picky about their outfits– pink frills or blue sailboats–all ok. Dolls not anatomoically correct (and even some that are) don’t mind being dressed as a boy or a girl. And when you are done, they sit where you put them without running around getting dirt and schmutz on their new clean clothes. Research in child development even supports the idea that we humans having been hardwired to bond to young for survival of our species, are attracted to teddy bears and dolls because of the round cheeks and big eyes, round bellies so similar to those of human babies. Price can be an issue in doll collecting. If a person prefers the artist doll, Limited Edition or one-of-a-kind it is possible to pay thousands of dollars and to wait several years for a new piece. On the other hand, Ashton-Drake type collectibles make dolls affordable for most budgets. And yet further still on the scale, a person can find a loveable doll in a thrift store or kids’ shop just because it was love at first sight.

There are so many kinds of dolls, bears adn other animals out there now. Just go to any Barnes and Noble and check out "Doll Reader" or "Contemporary Artist Dolls" magazines. From abstract bizarre creations, classic sculptures, porcelains, resins–Fimo, Sculpey and others, babies so life-like they seem to cry, babies that "breathe", vinyls of very good quality with paint that looks like skin tones, fabric dolls, dolls made by hobbyists and dolls made by professionally trained artists, clothing by fashion designers, bear creators who start with raising the rabbits and sheep to harvest the wool to make the felt to make the bear..the possibilities are endless.

One thing is for sure–we’re not talking your mother’s Barbie dolls any more! To be fair, Barbie does seem to endure and remain ageless and isn’t she lucky? even though Ken went by the wayside, usurped by an Australian surfer dude after 40 years. Poor guy! Barbie stands up to all the new exciting fashion doll creations as well. The aisles of Toys R Us contain very good quality vinyl play dolls made by German and spanish companies who can become under the watchful eyes and skilled hands of "Re-born" artists another class of one-of-a-kind collectible babies. Left to their own devices these dolls make wonderful durable play babies for children. It is possible to search online for dolls and bears in several ways. If you like a particular artist you can search that artist. If you like a particular shop you can start there. Many shops and artists have their own websites. Know what you like. Classified ads for doll shows. Trade magazines.

It is up to the individual collector whether he or she keeps the doll out. Puts it in a cabinet or keeps it boxed with acid free paper or to play with it. A lot depends on life style. A person with animal pets may find it challenging to keep the bear or doll out simply because four footed folks do find them tasty to chew and in worse cases, tempting to mark on. I have one dog who loves to carry a teddy bear in her mouth. She is a fierce protector! But just in case, she will bark at you around the dolly she carries. Certain fabrics, vinyls, and resins are vulnerable to sunlight which can cause fading and damage. Others are temperature sensitive. Porcelain breaks. Many folks have made the mistake of trying to remove marks on vinyl dolls with acetone only to lose the paint as well! I’ve had poorly fired resin dolls crack and lose body parts. Dust can damage dolls and bears as well. Whatever way displayed, it is often important to keep not only the box the doll came in but also the tags, receipts, papers and ecertificates. This completes the piece’s provenance and in the event of re-sale adds much to the worth. Some prefer rotating the doll or bear so it spends some of its time boxed and protected from the elements. To sum things up, don’t be shy or embarrasssed or afraid to like dolls or bears. They are not only for children. We carry good memories of these friends with us into adulthood. Friends who comforted in hard times. Always available for a hug and a secret. Loving them still makes perfect sense.

By: Rachael Z. Ikins

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Rachael Ikins is an award-winning photographer of dolls at play; creating images that mimic life and entice the viewer to take a closer look. Additionally, she writes children’s books and illustrates them with her photos to enchant her readers. You can be touched and amused by her life-like photos by visiting www.rachaelikins.com/rzidolls.html .

My Barbie Dolls Collection

A Doll collecting Dolls…how perfect. Your collection is turning out wonderful, and a definite keeper. Just to let you know…your not alone, I have a dear friend who travels around the country for this hobby and loves the hunt and the treasure.

Interesting Facts About Barbie

1999 was the first year that a family member of the Barbie doll was introduced into the line as a large-scale doll, Cuddly Soft(TM) Kelly. Doll collecting is second only to stamp collecting as the most popular collecting hobby in the world.

Extended Doll Collecting

Collectible bears are simply and extension of collectible dolls. The teddy bear is as historic as the baby doll, and that is why many of us begin to collect bears as well as dolls. There are collectible bears that come onto the market every year.

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When it comes to Marie Dolls, every collector is always ….

Thinking About Dolls

Imagination plays a big part of growing up. Children are fascinated by ‘acting out’ what it would be like to be grown up. Toys play a vital part of this process. Almost anything can be a toy. From sticks and rocks to old socks, if it can be imagined, it can become a toy.

I suppose dolls have been around since before written history. Traditionally a toy that girls have used for centuries, dolls have played a vital part in the growing-up process. From learning how to care for a baby to becoming a jet-setting executive, dolls have helped young ladies dream about the future.

Just like the children who play with them, dolls come in all shapes, colors, ages and sizes. There are Barbie, Ken, Cabbage Patch, My Little Pony, American Girl and Bratz Dolls, just to name a few. They can be as simple as paper cut-out dolls and as complex, and expensive, as detailed porcelain dolls. For the boys out there, let’s not forget GI Joe and all those ‘action figures’ (come on guys, admit it, they really are dolls, too!).

As varied as the types of dolls, so are the materials that make them. Early dolls were made of wood and, later, paper-mache. The finest dolls had china heads and sometimes hands with wooden-jointed bodies. In the early days of the United States many dolls were made at home. Sew a few old rags together, and you have a new playmate.

Of course, nowadays dolls are not just for kids. Doll collecting has become a very popular hobby among adults as well as children. There are many categories of collections. Some focus on the ubiquitous Barbie, especially early and now rare editions. Others choose antique dolls, or dolls specific to a period of time. Still other collectors focus on a single manufacturer, country or style of doll. If you do not desire to dig and research, there are many special or collector’s editions of dolls produced today.

No discussion of dolls would be complete without a look at the growing hobby of dollhouses and miniatures. This has become a hobby unto itself. Once more, materials and types are as varied as the dolls they shelter. A dollhouse can be made by a child from a simple cardboard box. Dollhouses can also range to exact scale replicas of homes with exact scale furnishings, and even full lighting. Those with limited space may chose to do a ’shadow box’ that meticulously details one room of a house. It would not surprise me if somewhere some stickler for detail builds a dollhouse with full working plumbing!

So, whether Barbie is jet setting all over the world, or GI Joe is saving the world, if you just want to ‘play’ or construct an exact scale model of the White House, dolls and their accessories can take you wherever your imagination can go. They can make a rainy day go by faster, or allow an over-stressed adult a creative outlet. Anyway you look at it, dolls are cool.

By: Kelly Johnson -

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Kelly Johnson has launched several websited dealing with toys and hobbies as well as dolls. Her latest site on dolls and realted subjects can be seen at www.thebestdollinformation.com.

Doll Collecting

I  had been told by several guests that Ruszecki, an active member of both the Japanese street fashion and doll collecting communities, has been instrumental in bringing together the doll collecting and Lolita cultures.

Venturing Into Doll Collecting

Venturing into doll collecting can be a costly experience if not approached in the correct manner These basic guidelines will assist you in knowing where to start this fascinating and rewarding hobby 

Antique Doll Collecting

Collectible baby dolls and antique baby dolls collecting dust are something no baby doll collector wants. Show your toy baby dolls off to their best with antique doll displays.

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Procelain Dolls has been the range in recent years which may in part be due to the emergence of  on the market.

25 Years Of Doll Collecting.

The past 25 years have seen tremendous changes in the collectible doll industry. Until that time, collectors only had antique dolls, or newer children’s dolls to add to their collections. As there were relatively few ‘new collectibles’ to purchase, the market on these ‘played with dolls’ and antiques was vibrant and exciting.

There were many doll shows scattered all over the country, and a visit to one would find three types of dolls available, antique dolls, rescued discarded play dolls, and booths featuring doll makers wares. Doll makers were many, with their work ranging from dreadful to stunning.

Flea markets also found doll sellers, usually of the ‘discarded child doll type’, and many collectors searched regularly for collectible dolls. At the time, dolls being grabbed up were from the Chatty Cathy family, Chrissie and Velvet family, Patti Playpal types , Vogue, and of course Barbie.

With the emergence of the ‘Ashton Drake Gallery’ dolls, followed by many mass produced porcelain dolls by many other companies, all offering limited editions, artist renderings and much media advertising, many collectors changed direction and began to purchase these new dolls.

This new collector market was huge for a number of years. People scrambled to complete sets of dolls and to find dolls by certain doll artists. The market on older vinyl ‘designed for play dolls’ softened considerably during this period.

Home based, or small business Porcelain Doll studios, where you could take classes teaching you how to make your own dolls, also became very popular during this time.

A quarter of a century later, many dolls that were so popular, have now come onto the secondary market.
Due to the market being so flooded at the time of production, and so many collectors jumping onto the bandwagon, the secondary market is now flooded with these dolls. The value on many has plummeted as a result, particularly Ashton Drake Dolls.

Other collectible porcelain dolls that were mass produced are for the most part worth only a fraction of what was paid for them initially. The biggest reason for this is the fact that these dolls are still being produced, the quality has improved a great deal, and the prices have gone down. What reason would anyone have for purchasing an older one!

My advice over the years for anyone considering purchasing dolls as an investment only, has been to purchase dolls because you love them, and want to personally have them in your collection. Resale value should be a secondary consideration.

The market on genuine antique dolls continues to be strong, and investments made seem to be sound. As the years pass, it is harder and harder to find antique dolls unless they are coming directly from another collector’s private collection. This keeps the prices high. Unlike modern dolls, there are only so many antiques to go around!

By: Jayne Cremasco

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For more useful information on collecting dolls, visit www.eloradollhouse.com . You will also find a wonderful array of miniature dolls, furniture, doll houses and accessories on this website as well.

Porcelain Doll Apron

Crafting A Porcelain Doll Apron Now that you have created patterns to make your porcelain doll dress, you may want to add an apron to enhance her fashion. Aprons are relatively simple to make. You will need material, … Now you can fold the lace, press and add a couple of lines while collecting the stitches near the edges of the crown of your kilt. Gather and pull up the fitted kilt, collecting it to meet the waist and compare the middle front as well as the notch.

Indian Porcelain Dolls

When completing a web search for Indian porcelain dolls, you quite often find Native American porcelain dolls. Both varieties are beautiful and worth researching, but the porcelain dolls of India are unique creations that need more attention.

Porcelain Doll 

Peddler Doll This is one of My Favorite Dolls in my collection she is a reproduction China Head Doll. I purchased this doll in 2000 at a Doll and Teddy Bear Show in Washington, DC. The artist who created her name is Annie. … I love creating new dolls from cloth, in the past I have made numerous reproduction dolls from porcelain. I first learned to sew at age 5. 

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How To Survive Doll Collecting

If you have a large Marie Osmond Doll Collection, ask yourself if the following statements are true regarding your passion for doll collecting.  I would love to hear your comments.

Buy what you love.

As long as you love each doll that you buy you will love doll collecting. Doll collecting is a passionate pastime and choosing what type of doll to buy is a personal choice that should come from the heart. If you cannot walk past a baby doll without feeling it has your name written all over it, then buy baby dolls. If your passions for dolls dates back to childhood memories of playing with wooden dolls and you have a sentimental attachment to these dolls then collect these dolls. Do not let anyone influence you in your choice of dolls as a doll collection brings responsibilities and you do at least want to enjoy fulfilling these duties.

Collect within your budgetary limits.

Most serious doll collectors would love to own a whole collection of OOAK (one of a kind) collectible dolls. Very few of us can afford to own even one. Decide what you can afford to buy and start a collection in this price class. There is nothing to prevent you from upgrading your collection at a later stage should your financial position improve.

It is Quality and not Quantity that counts.

You will be adding more value to your collection by purchasing one quality doll per year than adding a number of mediocre dolls. Doll collections can so easily get too big to really appreciate and doll collecting is a marathon not a sprint. Be selective and appreciate each doll when you do manage to buy it.

Do sufficient research.

Making an informed decision always gives us confidence in our actions. Read as much as possible about a particular type of doll and get as much background information on the doll artists whose dolls hold a particular attraction for you.

Do not let price guides rule your decisions.

The Blue Book is every collector’s Bible, but this book is a point of reference only as there are numerous factors that can influence the value of a doll. Always use your own judgment in conjunction with price guides.

Buy from a reputable dealer.

This is of particular importance when purchasing antique dolls. Members of NADDA (National Antique Doll Dealers Association) must adhere to a strict code of ethics and membership requirements include at least five years experience in buying and selling antique dolls. All dolls must be guaranteed as to age, attribution, and physical condition in writing upon purchase. With modern new collectible dolls a reputable dealer will have a good after sales record and be knowledgeable about market trends.

Join a doll club.

Doll clubs are a great way of expanding your knowledge of the doll collecting world and a great way to share your ideas and aspirations. There is so much to learn from other doll collectors and these clubs often organize doll shows and other events that can bring a new dimension to your doll collecting.

Realize that you may want to upgrade your collection at some time.

Tastes change as we develop new ideas and are exposed to different types of dolls. Never feel guilty about wanting to change the direction of your collection. The money you get from the sale of your collection can be used towards your new-found doll collecting interests.

Enjoy yourself!

Remember that doll collecting is a pastime and it is meant to be enjoyed. Never let your doll collecting habits get in the way of family and friends and treasure the dolls that you are lucky enough to acquire. Always appreciate the doll friends you meet along the way even more than the dolls and you will find that you will always enjoy yourself.

Happy doll collecting!

By: Laura du Toit

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Doll Collection

I am quite excited to see a new collectible doll based on Jasmine Beckett-Griffith’s artwork, the Mytical Flora Fairies.

Doll Collecting

Lotz Doll Pages form a comprehensive collection of great information about carved dolls of all kinds, vintage and new and of all nations. I particularly enjoyed reading about Chinese Dolls of Hope which have a sweet quality about them.

Hello Dolly

Should a grown woman be playing with dolls? Deb Baker writes about dolls—(A Dolls to Die For Mystery) great series. Dolls are integral to her stories. That’s business. David Arquette has a doll collection and barely saved his Mr. T doll.

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A Guide To Dolls

Doll guides are large books for doll collectors, used to help them tell one doll from another. They generally have large colour photos of each doll, together with price information. Thanks to the popularity of doll collecting, doll guides sell surprisingly well, even though they are often large, thick, expensive books. They are generally used mainly by professional collectors as tools for identification and valuation.

Because it would be pretty much impossible to fit every doll ever made into one book or even a series of books, each book tends to concentrate on a particular decade, or manufacturer, or even one doll (Barbie, for example).

Doll guides can be quite hard to find in shops (unless you live near a specialist doll shop), but they’re easy to find on the web, particularly on Amazon.com and eBay. If you get one used, it might not even be all that expensive, although you should expect to have to pay a lot for postage. Make sure you read reviews of any given book before you buy it, because they vary hugely in quality, and not all of them do what they say on the cover very well at all.

It is ironic that doll guides are easiest to buy on the web, however, because it is also the web that is making them slowly obsolete. Even the best doll guides can’t hope to even touch the sheer diversity of pictures and information that exists on the web in the doll collecting enthusiast community. There are websites out there that are at least as reliable as any of the books, and websites are usually more up-to-date in terms of price guidance.

The web works particularly well if you know which doll you have and just want to know which type it is. Even if you know nothing about the doll, however, and you can’t find it in a database, it’s not hard to find doll collectors’ forums (search for ‘doll forum’). Once you’re on a forum, you can post pictures and other enthusiasts will help you out – someone is bound to know the answer.

By: john

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Guide for Collecting American Girl Dolls

Are you into collecting American Girl Dolls? Doll collection starts itself. American Girl Dolls offers many different types of accessories that go good way off clothes.

Doll Collecting

Doll Reference web site, a guide to doll collecting and identifying dolls from 1800 to the 1970’s, Antique to Vintage dolls, over 10000 photo’s, descriptions and markings are included. Dolls are listed by the doll manufacturer on each picture.

Collecting Dolls

Read shortly after I began collecting dolls in 1991, this book opened up the world of black-doll collecting for me and was my collector’s bible for at least a decade. Before reading it, I had been in the black-and-white doll collecting.

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If you a re a serious doll collector then you should have at least one Madame Alexander doll in your collection.

One of my favorite vintage Madame Alexander dolls is Scarlett. December 1939 was the debut of the new line of Madame Alexander composition Scarlett O’Hara dolls. These exquisite dolls were the first creations to portray the beauty and intrigue of our favorite Southern Belle.

Madame Alexander was inspired by Scarlett’s character from the moment that she read Margaret Mitchell’s book. After reading the book, Madame requested and received permission to make a Scarlett O’Hara doll. While there is some question as to exactly when the first dolls were made, there were official Scarlett O’Hara dolls by Madame Alexander advertised in the Atlanta newspapers on the day of the film’s premier in 1939.

Legend has it that when Madame Alexander heard that David O. Selznick was bringing Margaret Mitchell’s fabulous book, Gone With The Wind, to the screen; she, hoping to gain the market rights, made a Scarlett O’Hara doll and sent it to him. Long before the part was given to Vivien Leigh, Madame Alexander received a contract from MGM to do the dolls. It was uncanny how closely Madame Alexander’s conception of how Scarlett looked matched the actress that would eventually play her.

Madame Alexander chose to launch her Scarlett doll line with a mix of colors and fabrics reminiscent of the ante-bellum era. Hundreds of dresses and coat and dress combinations were created between 1939-1943. The composition Scarlett dolls were attired in dresses of various prints and trim detailing. Most Scarlett dolls wore either a straw hat or a fabric bonnet.

The popularity of the Scarlett doll led Madame Alexander to make even more dolls based on the movie. The Gone With The Wind Collection dates from the early days, when the movie was released, right up to the present day. You can now find a doll for nearly every character in the movie.

Madame Alexander

Madame Alexander has always believed that dolls should engage the imagination and help in emotional and educational development. 

Madam Alexander babydoll

That’s funny– my friend got some Madame Alexander dolls for her first birthday, too! She wasn’t allowed to play with them, they had to stay in the box, so they just… stayed in the box. And there they stayed for 35 years until last month.

Madame Alexander Dolls

When we were younger, my sister and I used to have a bunch of Madame Alexander dolls. However, they were the collectible kind. 

Technorati Tags: madame alexander, scarlett, vintage madame alexander dolls

Procelain dolls just like the Marie Dolls have really come onto the forefront of collectible dolls.

Porcelain Dolls – Not Just For Children Any More
 by: Johann Erickson 

Doll collecting is the second most popular hobby in the U.S., and it’s easy to see why. Porcelain Dolls transport us back to our childhood and evoke memories that no other toy can match. We remember our first doll, our favorite doll, the doll we loved to pieces and the beautiful doll we kept on a high shelf. We remember the comfort and love our dolls gave us and the first time we realized we were too old for our dolls. But were we really?

Consider porcelain dolls, they’re the perfect collectible doll. With delicate faces and hands, they remind us of why we loved dolls so much in the first place. There are tiny, precious newborn porcelain dolls, child-like porcelain dolls in fancy attire, and porcelain dolls based on favorite characters.

Porcelain Doll collecting can be addictive, and the choices can be overwhelming. There are artist dolls, made by hand in limited numbers; antique porcelain dolls, which are scarce; Limited Edition dolls, which are mass-produced but only in limited numbers; reproductions, that often attempt to duplicate popular antique or rare dolls; and many, many other types of porcelain dolls.

If you want to start collecting porcelain dolls, the first thing to do is decide what type of porcelain doll you want to collect. Perhaps Victorian style porcelain dolls capture your heart, or you just fall in love when you see a porcelain ballerina doll. Whatever type of porcelain doll you can’t walk away from is the type for you.

Once you decide what type of porcelain doll you want to collect, (and the choice can be difficult!) you’ll want to thoroughly research it. Knowing what porcelain dolls are worth and how to tell an antique from a reproduction just may save your wallet. But, like fine art, purchase the porcelain dolls you love.

Once you start building a collection, it’ll be hard to stop. There are porcelain doll shows to attend, new friends to be made, and more and more porcelain dolls to be loved and admired. But every moment spent on porcelain dolls is like spending another moment in childhood.

About The Author

Johann Erickson is the owner of Online Discount Mart (http://www.onlinediscountmart.com). Please email the author and include an active link to this website if you’d like to use this article.
marketing@4intrepid.com

Porcelain Doll

Dolls aren’t real. They resemble human beings, but there’s no real depth or substance to them. And to be a porcelain doll is so much worse; porcelain dolls aren’t meant to be played with. They’re meant to be set upon a shelf.

Antique Porcelain Dolls

The price of antique porcelain dolls is contingent upon the quality. There is a distinction between a true antique and vintage. A vintage porcelain doll is one from the 1940s and after while an antique porcelain doll is a doll made before the 1930s.

Technorati Tags: Doll Collecting, porcelain doll house dolls, porcelain dolls

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f you have any questions regarding the content in this website, about the products that are mentioned, or just any questions at all don’t hesitate to contact me at the following address. I’d also love to hear any feedback on the site if you’ve found it helpful or have some ideas about how I can improve the site in some way.

Please contact me at  admin@mariedolls.org

I will reply to all messages as soon as possible.
Judy Simmons

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Marie Dolls .org is dedicated to providing quality information on Marie Osmond dolls and doll collecting.

Here you will find helpful reviews, informative information and tips and much more. This site is in the format of a ‘weblog’ so that each time I post new information, it will come to the top of the front page. This means that you can check back here frequently to see new updates to the information found here.

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I hope you find the information I provide valuable and helpful.

All the best,
Judy Simmons

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