If you see the name Steiff associated with toys, and, in particular, stuffed bears, you should know about Margarete Steiff. Despite having polio and being confined to a wheelchair, she founded the company that bears her family name… and it has become the world’s premier manufacturer of high-end toys and collectibles– a luxury toy brand… Read more »
An Overview of Bisque Dolls
In the late 1860s, an innovation in doll making came into being– the development of bisque dolls. Up until that time, dolls were typically glazed porcelain. Bisque dolls were different because they allowed for more realistic skin tones, since they were unglazed porcelain. Meant for Collectors Because they were and are breakable (and expensive), bisque… Read more »
Gift Ideas for Doll Collectors
What do you get doll collectors as gifts? Dolls? Sure! But what else? Doll Magazines Did you ever think about getting them a subscription to a doll magazine? There are actually several to consider, including American Girl, Antique Doll Collector, and Art Doll Quarterly. A quick Google search online will find you several options to… Read more »
Things to Know About American Girl Dolls
Most young girls know about American Girl. It’s a famous doll and book company that made its debut in 1986 and has been going strong ever since. Portrayals For the most part, American Girl dolls have portrayed eight- to eleven-year-old girls of a variety of ethnicities. They’ve been sold with accompanying books told from the… Read more »
An Overview of Paper Dolls
You’ve probably heard of the term “paper dolls,” especially if you have young girls in your family or you, yourself, were ever a young girl. For almost two hundred years, paper dolls have been inexpensive, popular children’s toys aimed primarily at little girls who enjoy playing with them and dressing them. What are paper dolls?… Read more »
Tips for Displaying Your Doll Collection
You’ve been collecting dolls for some time, and they’re starting to pile up in boxes in the corner of a room not often seen by company. But wait– what good are they doing there with no admirers? One of the best reasons to have and grow a doll collection is to display it for friends,… Read more »
Barbie and the STEM Movement
If you saw the big hit movie Black Panther, you noticed that King T’Challa’s 16-year-old sister Shuri was presented as a confident, smart scientist. She’s just one character in today’s pop culture society that happens to be female and interested in science. There’s the female characters on The Big Bang Theory, one of whom is… Read more »
The Different Materials Dolls Are Made From
When most people think of dolls, these days, they’re probably thinking of modern day Barbies made of vinyl plastic. That said, dolls come in all shapes and sizes, made of various materials. Over the years, there have been many different materials used to create the dolls people love and cherish for generations. Carved Wood Way… Read more »
Does Barbie Have a Last Name?
If you say the name “Barbie” in everyday conversation, there’s a good chance everyone will know exactly who and what you’re referring to: the iconic doll! There are certain icons in this world, both real and fictional, who only need one name and everyone in a room automatically knows who that is: Cher, Madonna, Beyonce,… Read more »
A Quick Look at Dolls and Feminism
“Finally, a doll that looks more like me,” she said, as we strolled past the toy aisles in a giant store. “It’s about time!” Indeed, doll makers are waking up to the reality that not every girl or woman is stick-thin with blonde hair, blue eyes, big boobs, long legs, and hardly any waist. In… Read more »
