Posts Tagged ‘doll’

Reborn Baby Dolls|Reborn Doll

by Sandy | No Comments | Filed in Newer Dolls, Reborn Baby Dolls

Although this site is mainly about vintage dolls, I still have quite an interest in modern dolls, so I've decided to include them in the mix here as well as they catch my eye.  To say that reborn baby dolls caught my eye would be quite an understatement.  Reborn dolls are simply amazing.


If you have an interest in dolls, you have probably seen these unbelievably realistic dolls before.  If not in person, then online.  Who knows, you may have seen one in person and just assumed that it was a live baby that happened to be taking a nap.  They look THAT lifelike.

Reborn Baby Doll Lionel by Elisa Marx
Reborn Baby Doll Lionel by Elisa Marx
Paypal   US $285.00
Reborn realistic doll NEWBORN BABY BOY Stewarts ELIJAH
Reborn realistic doll NEWBORN BABY BOY Stewarts ELIJAH
Paypal   US $204.00
Reborn Custom baby boy girl doll MICHELLE BARRY SOPHIE
Reborn Custom baby boy girl doll MICHELLE BARRY SOPHIE
Paypal   US $335.00
Reborn 5 year old girl child doll Angelica Reva Schick
Reborn 5 year old girl child doll Angelica Reva Schick
Paypal   US $275.00
Reborn baby doll Premie Twins Ben Bayly by Lada Silva
Reborn baby doll Premie Twins Ben Bayly by Lada Silva
Paypal   US $202.50
Reborn OARB Sandy Faber Nala HAPPY baby doll Must See
Reborn OARB Sandy Faber Nala HAPPY baby doll Must See
Paypal   US $399.00
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To be honest, I do not own one of these dolls.  I frequently go to eBay just to check them out however.  There is something almost hypnotic about looking at them.  Some look more authentic than others, and that is most likely related to the skill of the particular artist who created the doll, but some of the photos could easily pass as real newborn photographs.

Reborn baby dolls are sometimes called "fake babies".  These are not something that you will find in the aisles of your local toy store.  These are created by extremely talented artists who use a variety of methods to add amazing details all the way down to mottled skin color and capillaries in the skin.  Hair is sometimes painted on, but the most realistic looking dolls seem to be the ones with rooted hair and eyelashes.  Some hair may still be painted on to complete the illusion.

Different artists may use different materials to achieve just the right feel and look for the vinyl baby's skin and overall 'feel".  Doe suede is sometimes used for the body.  Reborn baby artists may start with an existing doll, or they could also create custom molded dolls.  The dolls are weighted to make them feel like a real baby of the same age would feel.  Other features are can also be added to really kick up the realism.  Heartbeats, breathing sounds and the like can be added.  Of course, the more "features", the more expensive you might expect the reborn doll to be.  There are also some artists who will create custom reborn baby dolls to look like a particular baby.  That can also increase the price.  Recent eBay prices ranged from the hundreds of dollars up to over $2000 for a doll that was simply breathtaking in its realism.  Whether you collect these or not, you have to admire the workmanship of these artists.  The gifted people who create these "reborns" are truly artists in every sense of the word.

Here is a BBC documentary about reborns that you might find interesting.

Vintage Dolls Home

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The Vintage Barbie Doll

by Sandy | Comments Off | Filed in Vintage Dolls, vintage Barbie dolls

People who collect vintage dolls often specialize in one type of doll or another. 


One of the more popular dolls collected today is the vintage Barbie doll.  Honestly, vintage Barbie dolls have a very strong following of extremely savvy collectors who really know there stuff.   There are quite a few very detailed guides available for serious Barbie collectors who wish to know the exact value of the dolls they own.  These guides are a wise investment for serious collectors as they will include very specific information such as mold numbers and trademark clues that will help to identify a particular vintage Barbie doll that you have in your collection.

Vintage 1960s Barbie Doll RECEPTION LINE DRESS Wow
Vintage 1960s Barbie Doll RECEPTION LINE DRESS Wow
Paypal   US $110.60
VINTAGE BARBIE DOLL CASES AND DOLLS WHITE AND PINK
VINTAGE BARBIE DOLL CASES AND DOLLS WHITE AND PINK
Paypal   US $20.50
Vintage Barbie Doll 1966 Japan w 5 Outfits Brochures
Vintage Barbie Doll 1966 Japan w 5 Outfits Brochures
Paypal   US $20.50
VINTAGE BARBIE AMERICAN GIRL BEAUTIFUL DOLL
VINTAGE BARBIE AMERICAN GIRL BEAUTIFUL DOLL
Paypal   US $113.61
Vintage Barbie DOLL Red Bubble Cut Case Outfits 1963
Vintage Barbie DOLL Red Bubble Cut Case Outfits 1963
Paypal   US $61.00
VINTAGE AMERICAN GIRL BARBIE AND SKIPPER DOLLS
VINTAGE AMERICAN GIRL BARBIE AND SKIPPER DOLLS
Paypal   US $65.09
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To truly be considered vintage, Barbie dolls must be from between the years 1959 and 1972.  Other special "collectible" editions of Barbie were released by Mattel later than that, but they are their own story and I may write more about them later.

Prices for the very early Barbie dolls can get quite high.  Values can exceed ten thousand dollars in some cases.  The value of each doll will depend on factors such as the model itself, its condition, and whether or not any type of restoration work has been done to the doll.  If restoration has occurred, the quality of the restoration becomes very important.  The techniques and materials used during the restoration process should be true to the era from which the doll originally came.  The value of a Barbie doll can drop significantly if it has been restored improperly or by inferior means.  There are many Barbie doll collectors who do not want anything to do with restored dolls.  They prefer to pay the extra money required to obtain only original, undamaged Barbies (preferably with the original packing).  Certainly, if you are considering the purchase of a vintage Barbie doll as an investment or as an expensive addition to your collection, you should ask the seller for as many details as possible about the dolls history.  A quality seller of vintage dolls or any antique or vintage merchandise will feel obligated to mention any restoration that may have occurred, but you should still ask if it has not been mentioned specifically in the listing for the item.

Often, the original packing material for a vintage Barbie doll will be long gone by the time a collector is considering its purchase.  If you do happen upon a truly vintage Barbie doll still in its original package, you should be prepared to pay a premium price to own it.  Do some investigative work before bidding on one of these items and be sure that the seller is knowledgeable about the doll they are offering for sale.  Specifically ask the seller if this is an original or if it is a replica Barbie released to commemorate an earlier addition.

Probably the most rare vintage Barbie doll available is the original 1959 doll wearing a black and white swimming suit.  You can take a look at one of those if your travels ever take you near the Smithsonian.  They are very rare but it is possible that you will find one selling at someone's garage sale (you never know!).  There are still quite a few vintage Barbies floating around out there in peoples attics and basements waiting to be discovered by collectors.

Collecting vintage Barbies can look like a hardcore business at times, but it should be fun first of all.  Serious collectors also find themselves playing the part of serious investors at times, so caveat emptor (buyer beware) certainly applies.  Do some research and enjoy yourself as you build your collection of vintage Barbie dolls!

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