Gay Bob was the first actual gay doll, complete with his closet and a catalog promising many tongue-in-cheek-outfits that didn’t actually exist. Gay Bob was anatomically correct – although his proportions were a little more modest than for his successor, Billy. Billy, the out and proud gay doll, by Totem Read more
Anouk – a vintage-style fashion doll – captures the allure and style of the 1960s. She is influenced by French actresses Anouk Aimée, Anna Karina, Brigitte Bardot and Jeanne Moreau, as well as the French dolls Caprice, Mily, and Sylvie. The initial production had uniform make up and two hairstyles Read more
I have spent most of my working life as an art director in publishing, with many hours laboring in photographers’ studios – trying to get the perfect shot. Surprisingly, the set up of a professional, life-size studio can be replicated in miniature with remarkable ease, using not much more than Read more
Props can make or break doll photography. I’ve discovered that some of the best shots of dolls can be created with just a simple backdrop and a piece of furniture – perhaps this goes with my pared-down esthetic – but I personally think that’s all you need to give a Read more
Pelham Puppets made marionettes, glove, rod, and ventriloquist puppets. The quality of the toys was high, they were sturdily manufactured and featured hand-crafting in their production, including individually hand-painted faces. The factory was based in Wiltshire until it was sold in the early 1990s when it moved to Gloucestershire and Read more
Mdvanii is a fashion doll for adults conceived by BillyBoy*. This “effigy” as BillyBoy* called the doll was made in a limited series as a new concept and was launched on February 14, 1989. The 25 cm tall doll was originally made in a matte Caron make-up toned hard resin. Read more
What set Tressy apart from other fashion dolls was her ‘Secret Strand’, a long, thick tress of hair that came out of the hole in the doll’s head. The strand could be adjusted in length by means of push belly button and a key. The selling point was that Tressy’s Read more
One of my earliest inspirations, combining a love of puppetry and fashion dolls (in the form of the delectable Lady Penelope) was Thunderbirds. This became a must-see series in our household and we followed the astonishing adventures of the Tracys in wonderment – marveling at the technical innovations of the Read more
Bild Lilli was a German fashion doll produced from 1950 to 1964, based on the comic-strip character Lilli in the Bild-Zeitung newspaper. She first appeared in print on June 24, 1952. The cartoon was an immediate success and a new one appeared every day. The Lilli doll held three patents Read more
Sometimes it’s forced upon us, sometimes it’s our own choice, but whatever the circumstances, the upheaval of moving is rarely welcome. The Bold Doll helps you to pack up and move on out. It happened in 2012, but I was thinking back to an enforced removal that made me re-evaluate Read more