A Thing or Two about Porcelain Collectible Dolls

Modern porcelain collectible dolls generally have an exterior that appears soft and slightly dulled due to an unglazed finish.  These dolls are referred to as “bisque” porcelain dolls and have a closer resemblance of human skin.  These collectible dolls are ones that have been manufactured after 1980.

When looking at porcelain collectible dolls, overall craftsmanship is very important.  Details of the hands and fingers tell a lot about the quality of the dolls.   Open hands and fingers are harder to make than closed hands and fingers.  The “skin” of the doll should be smooth to the touch and as life like as possible.

Porcelain collectible dolls have maintained their popularity today.  To view a large selection, go to our porcelain collectible dolls page to select your favorite.  Tell us which one you choose!

The Latest Buzz About Real Life Babydolls

Have you heard about Bebe Gloton, the Breast Feeding Baby that is once again stirring up controversy as it hits the news media in the United States?  Recently, ABC’s Good Morning America featured a discussion about Bebe Gloton.  Fox news also recently published an article about this doll.  The topic of this doll isn’t new.  Doll authority Denise Van Patten addressed the controversy in her most recent newsletter, as she did once before in 2009 when an article about the doll appeared in the L. A. Times.

Why is Bebe Gloton so controversial?  Because she mimics breastfeeding.   The way the doll operates is that she makes sucking sounds when the child playing with the doll puts on a special halter that has sensors that operate the doll when the doll is held in the proper way for breastfeeding.

The question in my mind is, “How far should we go to create realism in a doll?”  In future blogs, I’ll write more about this topic.  Meanwhile, let me know what you think about Bebe Gloton the breast feeding doll.  Please respond and leave your comment.

To view more pictures of real life babydolls, go to my website, Special Dolls Online.com.

UFDC Realistic Baby Dolls Convention

Have you ever been to a Doll Convention?  A convention is a get together of doll collectors to share a passion for realistic baby dolls.  Being relatively new to the doll convention world, I haven’t attended the annual United Federation of Doll Clubs yearly hoopla yet; however, a new doll friend of mine told me that next year’s convention is to be held in New Orleans.

The United Federation of Doll Clubs annual convention, Les Celebrations des Poupees, opens in Anaheim, California at the Anaheim Hilton on Sunday, July 24.  The convention is national in scope.  I’ve heard from those who attend that it’s an amazing amount of fun, and the place to be to learn more about dolls than ever thought possible.  I’ve also heard it’s a place to make friends with people from all over the world who share an interest in dolls.

I know everyone attending the UFDC annual convention this year will have a marvelous time.  I Hope to be there next year in New Orleans.  Will I see you there?

Dianna Effner Dolls Wins Award

Storybook Sweetheart Alice in Wonderland, one of Ashton Drake’s Dianna Effner dolls, captured the hearts of the doll world by winning two highly esteemed awards.

The 2011 Doll of the Year (DOTY) Industry’s Choice awards winners were announced at the IDEX Premiere in Orlando, Florida this past January.  83 dolls went on to compete for the esteemed DOTY Public’s Choice awards.

 Over several months, readers and members of the collecting public had the opportunity to select their favorite dolls from the pool of Industry’s Choice winners.  The 2011 Doll of the Year Public Choice award winners were presented in the July/August 2011 issue of the Doll Reader magazine.  Storybook Sweetheart Alice in Wonderland won in the Collectible Ball-Jointed Doll category.

Meet Delilah Noir

Who is Delilah Noir?  She’s a fascinating young woman who embraces the different and seemingly contradictory components of personality.  Perhaps she’s a doll that represents the multiplicity of characters in all of us.  Have you met her yet?  If not, let me introduce you to her in my fantasy interview:

Q-How old are you, Delilah?

A-Well, I’m…tell me, how old are you?

Q-Are you old enough that you don’t want to reveal your age?

A-That’s exactly my age.

Q-What’s your favorite color?

A-I’m pretty in pink.  I also look  chic in Red Velvet.  I’m Dark and Defiant in black.  I look pretty cool in my tailored school outfit, and I love my Violacious Frills outfit for evening wear.

Q-What’s your favorite holiday?

A-On Halloween, I’m Once Bitten or Twice Shy.

Q-Do you like shoes?

A-Yes, yes, yes!!

Q-When is your bedtime?

A-At 10:00 I’m fast asleep in my pink pajamas; (or am I?)

Would you like to meet Delilah Noir?

Cindy McClure Adds a Touch of Elegance

Cindy McClure has won the hearts of collectors with her pretty little girls, adorable babies and toddlers, Native Americans, and elegant brides. She has been recognized with more than 48 important awards for her creations. Ashton Drake is the leading supplier of McClure’s reproductions, and is justifiably proud of its long-standing association with her

It wasn’t until later in life that Cindy McClure became a doll artist. The mother of five daughters, she began making dolls for her girls seven years into her marriage. Before she bought a box of crayola oil based clay and started sculpting, she was making “apple head” dolls and cloth dolls with embroidered faces. Her ability to sculpt all figures, not just humans, sets her apart from most sculptors. She works in all clay mediums as well as wax and stone. From the mold made of the original sculpt, she then produces the pieces in porcelain as well as the rare forms of waxed and “wax over porcelain.”

Cindy McClure’s latest Ashton Drake creation is her bride doll, Touch of Elegance. Please comment to tell us what you think of her beautiful porcelain sculpture.

Something New From Ashton Drake

Meet Sweet Princess, a So Truly Real doll by Master European Doll Artist Waltraud Hanl. What’s so special about Sweet Princess? She is now even more delightfully real with Ashton Drake’s new Hold That Pose technology.

Sweet Princess is amazingly true to life and is hand-crafted to Hold That Pose so you can create any interaction you can imagine. This little sweetheart has an infinite range of motion for hundreds of lifelike poses to capture a baby’s many moods. Best of all, Sweet Princess will hold every pose until you pose her again.

This doll is not a toy; she is a fine collectible to be enjoyed by adult collectors. Please comment to tell us what you think.