Heirloom Doll

Heirloom Doll

Collecting Romantic Dolls

Copyright (c) 2010 Ian Campbell

Dolls are romantic and nostalgic; reminding us of happier childhood times. Many makers produce dolls that are particularly romantic and ideal as collector's pieces or even as romantic gifts for a lover or spouse.

And romance is big news these days. The Twilight Saga has taken vampires out of the hands of the shock and horror merchants and into the swooning world of teenage girls who see romantic heroes where once audience saw blood sucking creatures of the night. As most dolls are manufactured with little girls in mind, it's no surprise that romance is such a strong theme, princesses and fairy tale weddings are the stuff of every little girl's dream and it's a game they've been playing for centuries.

Even the most modern ranges of dolls - Barbie of course is the most obvious example - cater to this yearning for a perfect match with a perfect man, like Ken. The romantic modes in which you can find Barbie are countless, and, should you wish to, you could make this the focus of a highly worthwhile collection.

There are also numerous artists and companies producing highly romantic dolls aimed at collectors - prices can be in the hundreds of dollars. Some excellent examples of romantic dolls can be found in those made by Ashton Drake and based on the fantasy art of Nene Thomas, whose paintings transport the viewer to fantasy worlds of princesses, Native Americans and fantasy brides. These are expensive collector's pieces and as with most collections, it's worth looking around sites like eBay to see if you can catch any bargains.

The growth of interest in the gothic and fantasy look among young women has opened up a whole range princesses, brides and elven beauties. You can also focus on antique romantic dolls, although you should be prepared to do more than just sit at your computer and click. You'll need to visit antique stores and auctions and be prepared to do some research to ensure you're getting good quality items at the right price.

If you would like to collect antique dolls that are going to be the antiques of the future and perhaps an heirloom for your family then you could even consider commissioning your own romantic doll designed to your specifications. Two organizations, the National Institute of American Doll Artists and the Original Doll Artist Council, have websites list makers showing examples of their work. Whether to commission or buy a doll or just to take a survey of what sort of romantic dolls are currently being made the website of each of these organizations is a great place to start looking.

About the Author

The Ashton-Drake Galleries and Integrity Toys are proud to announce
The Brides of Dracula
, the first issue in our new Couture Fantasy line partnership. Couture Fantasy blends high fashion with imaginative story lines. For The Brides of Dracula this means re-imagining Bram Stoker's beautiful, sultry, and dangerous vampire brides in stunning outfits made of rich, sumptuous fabrics. Visit Dracula's Brides at
http://www.draculasbrides.com/

Disney Princess Designer Collection Doll "Belle" - Review Part 1