Lovely Lilly: Pat Moulton creates a new BJD exclusively for DOLLS readers
By Pat Moulton Lifetime Achievement Award-winning doll artist Pat Moulton has designed a new resin...
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Author: DOLLS Magazine Contributor
Curious Collector: Ideal 1957 Shirley Temple doll
My mother, when downsizing, came across a doll she had bought years ago, a 17-inch Ideal Shirley Temple. She was still strapped in the original box, which I believe is the first box with the gold lid and white stars with Shirley Temple’s picture on the end. The doll is flawless — I am amazed at the condition of the vinyl, plus the hair has never been disturbed.
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Virginia Comish adds BJDs to her dollmaking lineup
Doll artist Virginia Comish has spent about a decade making baby dolls, first making vinyl reborn dolls, later switching to working on silicone baby dolls, including sculpting a doll for reproduction in silicone. Most recently, though, her enjoyment of collecting ball-jointed dolls (BJDs) has led her to make her own — not just the sculpts, but making the molds and casting the dolls herself.
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Aquatalis tempts collectors with high-end fashions, repaints, doll line
Impeccable style, effortless sophistication, and flair to spare are hallmarks of the Aquatalis brand. Over the past seven years, Vietnamese creative duo Alex Nguyen and Quan Pham have amassed devoted followers and dedicated repeat customers by offering a breathtaking array of doll fashions, faces and, most recently, their very own magnificent miniature muse, the stunning Lam.
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Moppet Dolls: Natasha Tereza’s miniature dolls bring smiles to collectors
For French dollmaker Natasha Tereza, what began as a creative way to relax in her free time has become a way to share her love of art with a larger audience. She started selling her miniature cloth dolls and dollhouse items under the name Moppet Dolls in 2017, but her creative roots run much deeper.
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Antique Q&A: Composition Kewpie Doll
Q: This doll was part of my grandmother’s estate. We are planning to keep it as a memento but wondered if there is anything special about it that we should know.
A: You have found a Kewpie doll,
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Artistic Expressions: Nefer Kane speaks through her doll sculpts
Nefer Kane was born, raised, and still resides on the French Riviera, next to the village where Picasso lived and about a mile away from Renoir’s house. “I am not in the big city of Nice,” she explained. “My place is more countryside, which I prefer, because I need nature around me. I hope one day I can have a house with more land near a forest.”
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Cissette: The Rise & Fall of a Fashion Icon
Once upon a time — in 1955, to be exact — Madame Alexander issued a 21-inch debutante doll with a full figure, arched high-heel feet, and a wardrobe the likes of which had never been seen before. Her name was Cissy, and she would forever change the way children and the doll industry looked at dolls. Previously most dolls were made in the likeness of a child, such as Betsy McCall, Ginny, and many others.
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Jiao Huadong turns collecting passion into JHDFashionDolls line
Jiao “Jason” Huadong’s quest for doll-design excellence is evident and undeniable. So is the artist’s commitment to dazzling doll collectors with the bold and beautiful Mizi and Adonis characters in his JHDFashionDoll line. Based in Huizhou, China, Huadong graciously took the time for an interview with frequent DOLLS contributor Wil Peterson:
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Antique Q&A: 1928 Just Me Doll
I fell in love with this doll, which I saw pictured in an advertisement for an auction, but there was no identification of it in the ad. I would like to find one like this. Can you tell me anything about her?
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Curious Collector: Oleg Cassini doll
Q: I am a fashion-doll collector and was thrilled to find this beautiful Oleg Cassini doll mint in the box. She is 12 inches tall and all vinyl, with rooted hair and painted eyes. The clothing is spectacular; the doll is sort of basic, one would say. Can you tell me more about this doll and perhaps a value?
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From Vinyl to Silicone: Making the leap to a new medium
If you’re a reborn doll artist, you will have no doubt become obsessed with every detail about the color and fine features of babies. You’ll constantly use that knowledge to create color and effects that make your work look alive. The good news is that everything you’ve learned in making reborn dolls is transferable — it will help make you a great silicone artist, too! The tough news is that Silicone painting is a more challenging medium.
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Grounded by pandemic, Ankie Daanen, other artists find teaching alternatives online
With a dollmaking career that’s lasted more than 35 years, Aankie Daanen has become not only an accomplished artist but a sought-after teacher. For years, she has held regular classes and workshops at various shows and other settings around the world. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted everyone’s plans for 2020, Daanen faced a choice: simply discontinue teaching for the duration or learn new ways to share her dollmaking knowledge.
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Antique Q&A: Horsman Bisque Dolls
Q: I found this little all-bisque doll with a sticker that says “E.I. Horsman Co.” and “Germany.” I thought Horsman was an American company that made composition dolls. Are there two doll companies with the Horsman name?
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Maria Mordvinkova’s wooden dolls carve links to the past
Reproductions of antique bisque dolls are an enduring part of the doll-collecting scene. But few modern dollmakers try to re-create the carved-wood Queen Anne dolls of the 17th and 18th centuries. One artist who does is Maria Mordvinkova, and her creations beautifully reflect the historic look of the original Queen Ann dolls without carrying a hugely expensive price tag.
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Collector Corner: Easter 2021
As collectors observe the holidays each year, many enjoy including their dolls in the celebration, as well. We invited you to share photos from your collection on these special occasions, and now we present collectors’ dolls celebrating Easter!
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Curious Collector: Alexander ‘Sound of Music’ Bride
Q: I found this beautiful Madame Alexander Bride doll at a doll show some time ago. I just got her out and realized that she is from “The Sound of Music” and was an astonishing $124. I was unaware of this doll and wondered what you could tell me about her.
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Collector Corner: Mardi Gras & Carnival
This pre-Lenten festival is celebrated in many areas around the world. New Orlean’s Mardi Gras is the best-known U.S. event, but Venice and Rio de Janeiro are also famed for their celebrations. These collectors made their dolls part of the pageantry!
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Collector Corner: Hina Doll Festival
More and more collectors are sending in photos of their dolls celebrating a variety of holidays. We’re very pleased and grateful to Yuko Waugh for sharing these photos and information about this Japanese holiday, in which dolls play an important role:
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Antique Q&A: Max Handwerck Bisque
Q: I have recently started to collect German antique bisque dolls. I have several marked Heinrich Handwerck. Now I have found one marked Max Handwerck. Did this company change its name or are these two different companies?
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