In a conflagration situation, is it burn, baby, burn, or will it be light my fire? The Bold Doll asked collectors a pertinent question…
All doll collectors have a certain romantic attachment to their dolls, after all we’re sensitive artistic souls, but how far does this attachment go? I thought it would be interesting to pose a question to some doll collectors: “In the case of a quick exit, if you had time to save only one doll which would it be, and why?”
Here are the illuminating answers in alphabetical order.
It’s like asking which of your children you’d save from the plague. No, there’s no way I could pick just one, I’d be trying to grab as many of them as I can, so they’d probably dig my body out surrounded by dolls … Baris
In the real world, where value has to be factored in, I would grab my blonde #1 [Barbie]. If value is thrown out of the equation, then I would grab a certain #3 blonde ponytail which we’ve used for innumerable photo shoots, and of which I have become very fond as the pure distillation of the early Barbie’s appeal. She’s simultaneously demure, sexy, innocent, and knowing – and clothes look great on her. Everything you (or at least I) could ask for in a doll. Joe Blitman
I am all about the “play value” of my dolls so the first doll I would grab would be one of my wig wearin’ beauties. Since my Japanese New Midge is the rarest of bunch she’d be the one. Manufactured to give the owner unlimited options in terms of look. A person could, with enough different wigs, create infinite looks using various hair and clothing combinations. It’s like having multiple dolls in one! Paul Bruce
I would not save only one. First of all, they are not that big and I have two strong canvas bags ready. I would go for those that would be nearly impossible to replace. Ernesto Padro-Campos.
Years ago my husband, Jason went to New York and brought me back Dark Desire Madra. I had never seen her and just loved every detail and her name was very appropriate because Jason is my dark desire. So without a doubt she would be my choice! Cary Carter
I’d have to save my Grave Concerns Evangeline Ghastly. She was the first doll that I discovered and I thought, “No, I can’t possibly spend that kind of money on a doll.” But she haunted me, and I treated myself to her as a special gift during the final semesters of my graduate school program. I remember she arrived at my new place on Friday the 13th – how perfect for my cool gothic-themed doll. Michael Delarosa
The one that I will save is Holiday Celebration Barbie Special Edition from 2001. Why a non-expensive and easy-to-find doll? She was a Christmas gift from my husband and my first collector doll. Having a 6-year old boy and 2-year old twin boys, there was hardly enough money to cover expenses, much less for collecting. That Christmas morning was the beginning of my hobby. Now, 700+ dolls [later], I will take her not because of monetary value or beauty but because of her sentimental value which is priceless. Nilsa Donelan
If I could only rescue one doll it would have to be my pristine #1 Blonde Barbie from 1959. Her vinyl has not faded, so she still has pink skin tone, and her hair is pale yellow. Each time I look at her, and take in a whiff of her “crayola” vinyl, I shudder with excitement and joy. Her original black-and-white striped swimsuit says it all. Vintage Barbie reminds me of my childhood and nostalgia, when there wasn’t a worry or care in the world, when there was magic and innocence. Jeff Doung
Amadou (Iplehouse Dark Aaron) would win! Amadou is the alpha: first to arrive, favorite to photograph, most developed personality. He runs this place. But the new boy, Alassành (Iplehouse Denzel), is running a close second! Farallon
I would save a repainted OOAK Sydney Chase doll called Logan. She was one of the very early Sydney Chase dolls to come out and I was the biggest Miss Chase fan, she was repainted by a dear friend of mine. She was the first doll I used in a set of photos that caught the attention of Pat Henry, which led to me working for FDQ. If I had no other doll then I am sure just looking at her I would be able to remember all my years of doll collecting. Alexandra Forbes
First I thought I would take the Numina, Devon. But I changed my mind because she is not my favorite doll. Then I thought about my collection of 12-inch Fashion Royalty dolls and if I could only take one, I’d rather have none. As I consider each separate line that I collect, no single doll stands out as the one to save. I’d rather be done with it than just have one to remind me of what I lost. Depressing, isn’t it? Terri Gold
I would save the childhood doll of a dear friend of mine – which also happens to be a valuable antique – Bru. It is also located in a place I could get to in a hurry. Roberta Heinz
This would all depend on when I had to leave the house. Right now, I would probably grab my Titian Swirl Barbie, since she was the very first of all the dolls I had when I was three. On the other hand, this particular doll is not literally the same doll I owned as a child, so I might be able to pick her up again on eBay if I had to. So, I might just take my Gray Lady Gene. She is rare and special and not likely to pop up anywhere else. Just to be safe, I would also grab my computer where I have all my photos, so that I have some reference for all the other dolls that were left behind. Pat Henry
Silkstone Lingerie #3 [Barbie]. She is unique. Robert Best has not produced [another] one like her: black hair with green eyes – what a combination, she is just a beauty. She is however the least photogenic silkstone. I have not seen a good picture of her anywhere but when you meet her in person your opinion may totally change. Tony Kee
I’d have to save my childhood bubblecut Barbie. I used her to play out my fantasy of what my adult world might look like. We spent many hours together. I loved to dress and redress her, even though she had few outfits. I savored those moments of putting on her tiny shoes and gloves as she dressed up to meet Ken for a date. Having started out with a clone, to save my single working mother the expense ($3.99) of a real Barbie, I saved my pennies, nickels and dimes to eventually buy the thing I so longed for – my blonde bubblecut – from Woolworths in 1962. Mary Kellogg
I would save my Arranbee Angel doll, she is so much a part of my childhood. I played school or secretary with her, alone or with my cousin, Rhonda. She still lives with me on my bookcase in my bedroom and I’m married! Susan Klein
Without question I would save the bisque “baby boy” (unmarked). He has the sweetest, more endearing little body and face. He touches my heart. Jacquie Klose
It would probably [be] the doll closest to the exit! Hopefully an armful of dolls as I don’t think I will have time to think! Franklin Lim-Liao
I wouldn’t choose the most expensive but the one I like best. That would be a vintage #4 ponytail Barbie in all original condition, with the most beautiful hair and paint: the passion of the artist who did her at the factory can be seen in her face. Lolaxs
I actually may leave the dolls and grab my La Boutique handbags. Seriously, if I could only take one it would be an Ellowyne repaint by France Briere, Bijou Dolls. Besides being fabulous and one of a kind, I would never be able to afford to buy her again. All the other dolls (except a few other OOAKs) are replaceable. But since I have two hands I would take two dolls, the hubby will have to grab the dog! Tula O’Reilly
It would be my Vollard Raggedy Ann. She is an heirloom from my childhood friend Peter. I think if I lost everything this doll would allow me to re-enter the doll world by inspiring me to make rag dolls. Terence Oldham
12 years ago my [childhood] Arranbee Angel went to the land of lost dolls on my last big move. In this age of ebay I have been able to recapture her but I know she is not my Angel so the sentiment is not the same. Angel 2 is safely packed away. I would save my 2005 Madame Alexander Wendy, Sweet Sixteen in a long white tulle party dress. Wendy holds a special place in my heart. The similarity with Angel is clear: sweet childlike innocence. As a child I did not know of Madame Alexander or Wendy, I did not go without but perhaps the Madame Alexanders were champagne taste on a beer budget. So I have more than made up for that as an adult! Rhonda Reed
Out of all of my wonderful dolls, it would be my 25-inch porcelain doll. She is pale with black hair in ringlets, bangs, and a dark grey velvet dress. Her wardrobe is from the 1890s. I would save her because my mom bought her for me, but then thought that it wasn’t fair because she couldn’t afford to buy two more dolls for my older and younger sister. So she decided to raffle her off to us by pulling straws. I got the long straw and my two sisters were happy because they said, since they thought the doll looked like me, I should have her. Which is what my mom had originally thought! Debbie Rojano
Sentiment would win out for me, and I would have to say my much loved #5 Blonde Ponytail Barbie. She was handed down to me by an older cousin so she was in played-with condition when I got her. This doll came everywhere with me including vacations on the lake in Rhode Island. Of course, she would always swim in the shallows – lol. I do remember wishing she had bendable legs though. But when all the girls in the neighborhood got together to play Barbies, that #5 was the one I always chose! Maryann Roy
I would grab my Unoa Lusis, bought in unpainted pieces as a model kit. I painstakenly sanded all the mold seams using three stages of sand paper to bring the resin back to a smooth finish and gave all the pieces a base coat of lacquer. Then I applied blushing to the pieces, customizing the color myself. After a final lacquer and assembly, I hand painted her face paint, finger and toe nails. I have other dolls that would command more money, but I have so much of myself in this doll that I am very attached to her. Of course before I would consider rescuing any of my dolls, I would get my husband and two cats to safety. Carol Salinger
Without a doubt, it would be my #1 Barbie dolls because of the sentiment and, of course, value. Grant Salminem
The doll I would save is a French Automaton from the 1890s made by House of Lambert. It has the original key to wind it, the head is a Jumeau size 4, with powder puff and celluloid mirror. I would choose this doll because she would be harder for me to replace, and I enjoy winding her up and looking at her look at herself and powder her face. Danny Shepard
If I had to choose… it would be my Little Lulu cloth doll given to me by my older brother for Christmas. I’ve kept her almost 50 years and she has a lot of childhood memories associated with her. snowleopard
I would choose my Bob Mackie Queen of Hearts doll. The reason for this is that she is one doll that [my husband] Chuck always wanted. When we first began collecting, Bob Mackies were out of our price range. Just two months before Chuck passed away, I found a Queen of Hearts at the Vallejo Doll Show, very reasonably priced. I bought her and hid her [for] Christmas. In late November, Chuck went into the hospital and never was able to come back home before his death. I surprised him and brought the Queen of Hearts to the hospital on Christmas Day. He loved her and was so pleased with his gift; although, he asked me to bring her back home so the nurses wouldn’t think he played with dolls! That doll is very special to me. Sidney Spear
Ugh…that is an awful choice for sure. But it would be FDQ Vanessa (and one of her sisters shoved down my pants if need be). Vin Trapani
Really? Just one?? I can hold so many more dolls in both arms! But if pressed into an answer, I’d probably say my Deva doll, Angie. I could sell Angie for bigger $$ than my other dolls and use the funds to get us on the road to recovery. If it’s a purely sentimental response, then I’d say any one of the Sydneys, probably “Black & White Ball” (blonde) as she was my first and I find her the most beautifully rendered of all the Sydneys. Vera Wolchesky
I think mine would have to be my tanned vampire Ducan bjd put out by Dream of Doll of Korea and auctioned at the first annual BJD event in Hong Kong. He’s a true one-of-a-kind doll – the only Ducan ever cast in tan resin. How the creators thought that a vampire should have a tan is beyond me. Richard Yep
There is no doll I would take or save, just my family and dogs. The dolls aren’t that important to me. Stephanie Yue
So a whole range of responses based on scarcity, value, childhood memories, and sentimental associations. Of course this is not a scientific survey, so why not ask the collectors you know and see what you find.
Oh, I should nominate my own rescue doll… this week it would definitely be Milou the Mannequin by Wendy Roper at Mannequins de la Mode. Milou has the classic blank canvas look of a miniature store-window mannequin and yet adds a contemporary spin. Part mid-century Parisian high fashion model, with a twist of Japanese Geisha, part 1960s Dolly bird; all blended with a turn of the century sensibility. Milou is the most versatile doll I own.
This feature was first published in Fashion Doll Quarterly magazine in 2011. Since then I’m sure many of the collectors mentioned above will have changed their minds about which dolls to save, or will have moved on to new areas of interests. If you are mentioned here and would like me to update your comments, please let me know.
This story is re-published here in fond memory of Franklin Lim-Liao and of Sidney Spear.
All illustrations © The Bold Doll
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