How would you describe your doll-collecting habits? The Bold Doll ponders collector acquaintances, and looks ahead to the science of collecting in the future.
I’m always intrigued by the collecting habits of others. Especially the other collectors that I’ve met since moving to the West coast of California. I’ve reached the conclusion that there are broadly six collecting types: the Obsessive; the Magpie; the Cataloger; the Hoarder; the One-In-And-One-Out; and the Impresario. You may disagree, or have different categories, but this is how I see it.
The Obsessive simply has to have every new doll in a series as it is issued. This might mean having the most complete collection of a current range. I know Fashion Royalty collectors who fall into this category. They won’t rest until they have snagged the latest, most desirable doll of the moment. And even then there are gaps in their collection, from the back catalog, that must be filled. Or this type might be a vintage collector who will buy partially-dressed dolls they neither want nor need just to complete a particularly elusive outfit – a hat here, a pair of sling-back pumps there, and a load of extra dolls to add to the store room. The essence of the Obsessive is thoroughness, they cannot be satisfied until they have the most comprehensive collection possible. Ideally everything will be in factory-mint condition, complete, in the original box and with any relevant paperwork.
Utterly different is the Magpie, who collects anything and everything. If it’s new and shiny the magpie wants it. With a particular penchant for bright sparkly things – the Magpie will collect simply anything that appeals to them. The archetypal impulse buyer, and big on instant gratification, their collection is a jewel-box of delights – you simply never know what you will find. Indeed neither do most magpie collectors, as they have usually moved on to the next pretty thing and quickly lose track of (and interest in) their previous acquisitions. This collector is likely to be the one with the most surprising collection – assuming you can find you way though all the baubles.
In some ways the Cataloger is more interested in the activity of collecting than the collection itself. Probably a frequent shopper at The Container Store, this collector will have a tidy home, neat cupboards, and very clear knowledge of exactly where to locate each and every one of their dolls. The more extreme of this type will have cross-referenced records by material and manufacturer and may even be working on a doll reference book. In fact the Cataloger probably has a pretty impressive library to bolster up their knowledge. This is the person to consult if you have a mystery doll or if you’ve found something that might be a rare edition.
You can easily tell when visiting the home of the Hoarder, they long ago gave up any pretence of actually living there. The whole place is a storage facility for the hoard, there’s virtually no room for anything other than doll boxes, and every available surface, both vertical and horizontal, has been used. There may be treasures here but they are so deeply buried in the far recesses of what once were rooms that they are likely never to be unearthed. The Hoarder is desperately seeking a Cataloger to create order from their chaos.
Anathema to the Hoarder is the One-In-And-One-Out Collector. This is the most restrained and disciplined type, and, as such, a very rare beast. The One-In-And-One-Out has a policy of maintaining the collection at a fixed number of dolls and there is a constant embargo on any further purchases unless the same number of dolls are let go. This collector usually has a collection of prize specimens – each doll being chosen with the utmost care and attention to detail.
Finally the Impresario, who just wants to put on a show. The friend of display-case makers everywhere, this collector wants all their dolls out and shown to their best advantage. Visiting this collector is a bit like going to a fantastic toy shop – but of course with the disadvantage that you can’t buy!
Of course the drawback with virtually all types of collecting, apart from the One-In-And-One-Out, for obvious reasons, is lack of storage space. Unless you are lucky enough to live in a many-roomed mansion, this is a problem you’ll be familiar with. But here technology may be coming to the rescue, in the guise of Rapid Manufacturing [nowadays more commonly known as 3D printing].
While I was in London I was lucky enough to work on a project about this new science for the Royal College of Art. It’s a bit like magic, imagine a machine that’s like a cross between a photocopier and a microwave oven. A sort of 3-D photocopier, you could say. The idea is that absolutely any object can be programmed in, fabricated from any material, and produced for you by the alchemy of Rapid Manufacturing. I saw objects that had been produced, like a bicycle chain made entirely of Teflon, a mini vinyl dinosaur’s head – can you see where I’m going with this? – and some highly intricate decorative objects that it would be otherwise impossible to engineer. Of course on an altruistic note, there are huge implications for the use of this technology in scientific research and medicine. But the ultimate aim of the developers of this machine is that it will become as commonplace as the microwave oven. So anything we want to buy would be manufactured right there in our homes, at the touch of a button – no more trips to the shops or even ordering goods online and waiting for delivery. The implications on trade and commerce are huge and it will require an enormous rethink on the way society shops. It may seem a bit Jetsons, but it’s based on technology that’s currently available and just needs the investment of a backer to see it through.
Clearly there would be an impact on collectors. It might be salvation for the Cataloger – all the dolls could be carefully stored on the computer and fully rendered in glorious digital definition. Then if a real 3-D doll is desired in genuine vinyl or resin, it’s simple a matter of pressing the button and the doll will appear – fully-dressed and minty new. On the other hand it could be hell for the Obsessive – every doll instantly available at your fingertips. One push and there she is – boxed, complete with all accessories, ready and waiting for the next issue in the series.
Re-published from the Summer 2010 edition of Fashion Doll Quarterly magazine.
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