When Virgin-Archer was developing a new doll, heavily inspired by a much-loved vintage classic, the artist behind the brand gave The Bold Doll a behind-the-scenes-tour.
Anouk is a vintage-look fashion doll, much sought-after by collectors since her launch in 2016. The doll is styled La Poupée Mannequin: her creator, Nav Sikand, talked to us in 2015 ahead of Anouk’s introduction. Sikand is the talented UK-based artist who established Virgin-Archer. His acclaimed repaints and celebrity look-alike dolls are highly-prized among doll collectors. Much as he continues to enjoy repainting dolls from a variety of sources, he longed to create a doll of his own to use as his own blank canvas.
As he explains, “I suppose my interest started out with nostalgia. I wanted to find the toys I remembered as a child, having four older sisters, and searched for Palitoy Pippa dolls and Pedigree Sindy dolls. It was around 1999, when eBay was in its infancy, but the site exposed me to many dolls I hadn’t known before.”
“I had a neighbor whose parents indulged her. I think she had every fashion doll ever produced. My more conservative parents refused to buy me any dolls. But the neighbor gave me a small Britt doll, Palitoy Pippa’s Scandinavian friend, as a ‘trial’. If I looked after her, the neighbor would give me a coveted brunette Sindy doll, the must-have doll in 1970s England, far more popular than her American cousin, Barbie. The trial was a success, I was given the brunette Sindy and I still have her today.”
“Pippa and Sindy, the first dolls I collected as an adult, have a special place in my heart. But I soon discovered many more, and amassed collections of Vintage Barbie, Bild Lilli and Hong Kong Lilli clones, Francie, Palitoy Action Girl, Ideal Tammy, Estrela Susi, Topper Dawn, all issues of Tressy, Daisy by Mary Quant, and on and on. Recently I have tried to focus my collection, and have a particular fondness for less well-known foreign dolls.”
“My main collecting centers on Mexican Lili Ledy Senorita Lili, the Mexican version of Tressy, and Barbara Parlante, the Mexican version of talking Barbie. I also have a large collection of Dutch Willy Wilderbas dolls and German Schwabinchen dolls. From France, I love Caprice and Mily de Gégé.
“I like vintage fashion dolls because they are the closest thing to traveling back in time – snapshots into another era, reflected in their packaging, accessories, fashions, make up and hairstyles. I prefer dolls that are quirky or not so-run-of-the-mill. For example, the Dutch Willy Wilderbas dolls are often disliked by collectors because of their severe features, claw-like hands, and odd proportions. But I adore them!”
“Once I tried to have examples of all the major dolls that were ever produced. But I got a grip and narrowed it down. These days I like dolls with something a little different about them, that sets them apart. Clones are often a lot more interesting for example.”
“Sadly, I don’t have the space to display all my dolls and the majority are packed away. I have two cabinets which are filled with Caprice, Willy Wilderbas, Schwabinchen and Lili Ledy Talking Barbara. These are my rarest, and the dolls I am actively collecting today. The most valuable doll I ever owned was a number one Barbie and a Japan exclusive Sun Sun Malibu Francie. They were exceptional dolls but I don’t have them anymore sadly.”
“I used to love the Charlie’s Angels TV show. The Hasbro dolls, in their vivid catsuits made a real impact. As a child, I gazed at them for hours in the toy store windows. I used to cut out their pictures from catalogs too. I still remember the thrill of playing with them secretly as a child.”
“For my celebrity portrait dolls, I research any films and books I can find of the particular subject. Often people will want them in a specific role so the hairstyle and outfit are replicated. My first fashion dolls were inspired by vintage pin ups and Bild and Hong Kong Lillis as well as Miss Marlene by Marx. I love the 50s style and panache of these dolls. Their make up, clothes, and ponytails are so evocative.”
The illusion of facial structure is the most difficult part to create, yet it’s so important for a likeness. Men are harder to do than women, because many of the female subjects I create use heavy make up in real life. Most dolls have a pretty uniform look, so if you are creating a personality like Barbara Streisand, for example, there are features which are pretty key. I had to develop techniques – in addition to contouring and shading – to build up facial features. The whole process is very satisfying. I love to create something people have dreamed of owning and especially the reaction you get when you send the final photos for approval.”
“My big Eureka moment came when I realized I should not get bogged down by trying to replicate every detail to the max. Its more about getting the general look and personality right. Often I can finish a face but it won’t all come together until I have styled the hair and created the outfit.”
“One of my biggest influences is vintage fashion models and film actresses. Right from the silent era through to the 1960s. The aura and charisma of those women was so powerful it made a real impact on me, even as a small child. When I was a teenager, while my friends at school had posters of topless models and football stars, I had pictures of Rita Hayworth, Veronica Lake, Hedy Lamarr. Later I was greatly influenced by European New Wave cinema and the pioneering stars like Anouk Aimée, Anna Karina, Jeanne Moreau, and Françoise Dorléac. I devoured films and books about them.”
“I really like the work of Adrian at MGM. His outfits in the movie The Women were both avant garde and supremely stylish. All the usual suspects: Coco Chanel, Oleg Cassini. I remember being struck by Marlene Dietrich’s wardrobe by Christian Dior in the movie Stage Fright. Later British designers like Mary Quant, and Tuffin & Foal have been big influences on me and shaped what styles, colors, and general look I like. I have a love of all things Mod. As a teenager I was a pretentious neo-Mod myself, or at least tried to be!”
“Believe it or not, I worked for years in the corporate world, in Oil and Gas Human Resources. A serious illness put a break in my career and when I came out the other side of it I was working full time as a doll restorationist and artist. It was part of my recovery in a way. I earn far less than I did back then, but money isn’t everything. Since I am self employed these days I can pretty much determine my own work schedule. Because of recent health problems, mainly with my back, I have to pace myself. I am lucky to be able to do what I love for a living and I do count my blessings.”
“I mainly get exposure when I auction dolls online. I have a Flickr account also where I share my collection and my latest projects. A good deal of work comes from word of mouth. I sometimes post links on doll boards like Prego and Doll Divas. I am fortunate to have several loyal and repeat customers.”
“I love to style my dolls and give them personality. I like to get the right outfits on the right dolls and build up a collection of the variations and phases of the doll. Since I can’t display them all its important for me to photograph them nicely which I love doing.”
Nav goes on to reveal a few tantalizing snippets about his new project, “At the moment I am very excited about taking my one-of-a-kind doll work to the next level. I am working with a factory in Europe to produce a vintage-style fashion doll in limited edition. She will be an affectionate tribute to the French fashion dolls of the 60s. These are very expensive dolls to collect as originals and are not available outside of France. My new doll, Anouk, will be a more affordable option and be available worldwide.
It has long been a dream of mine to produce my own vintage-style fashion doll. My initial idea was to produce a factory-made Hong Kong Lilli doll. However in the interim a very beautiful and faithful reproduction of Bild Lilli was produced to great success. Back to the drawing board – I looked at other options.
“Given my love for the style and aura of 50s and 60s style European actresses, I looked at producing a doll who embodied that combination of voluptuous pin-up beauty with the intelligence and intellectual personality that these actresses had. I also liked how these women played characters who were not as polished and coiffed as the vintage Hollywood movie stars. Around the glamour and style was often a few rough edges. Women with flaws, and a past. I looked at French dolls like Caprice and Mily: Caprice for her generous figure and beauty, Mily for her style and unconventionality.”
“The biggest challenge has been the funding. It has taken a lot of effort. Mainly it has been practical and logistical issues as well as sourcing suppliers. The name was quite difficult too, from a trademark point of view. Many of the names I wanted were already registered trademarks. I finally settled on Anouk. I chose this because it is evocative of 1960s France. There is a much loved and celebrated French actress called Anouk Aimée who was at the forefront of the French New Wave cinema movement, she was incredibly beautiful and stylish. Anouk is a diminutive of Anna and since my own daughter is called Aanya, it is also a tribute to her.”
“The creative part has flown very naturally and I am happy with what I am finally producing. I am very lucky to be working with an extremely talented American designer who will be sewing all of Anouk’s clothing. Initially she will come in six different outfits in a limited edition of 300 dolls. I might produce further lines. These would be with different clothes, and her make up and hair styles would also evolve. But this will depend on finances and time.”
The new doll launched in mid 2016. Here are two Flickr links where you can find examples of Nav’s celebrity look-alike dolls and one-of-a-kind art dolls. This feature first appeared in Fashion Doll Quarterly magazine in 2015.