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August 2009 | Vol. VIII - No. 8

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Reviving Doll Collecting Amid a Fading Generation

UFDC Doll Convention Testifies to Long-standing Devotion and Declining Interest

By: Virginia Davis
8/1/2009

“Only doll shops that carry high-end dolls are still in business, and many are just hanging on.”

Old friends were reunited and new friends made over a mutual love for dolls during the 60th annual meeting of The United Federation of Doll Clubs and the Original Doll Artist Council of America convention held in Atlanta, Ga., the week of July 12. As much as these events spoke to the traditional beauty of doll collecting and artistry, they also revealed its changing state from a once-vibrant and growing hobby decades ago, to a pastime that is rapidly aging out.

The nearly 2,000 attendees at the doll events demonstrated an ongoing commitment to doll collecting, yet many factors are reshaping the world of dolls:

Aging Collectors. Most avid doll collectors now are over the age of 50. Doll collecting encompasses largely the same group of people who began collecting in 1976, when dolls became the third largest collectible in the world. Although there are new collectors joining, every year the number dwindles.

Since children’s attention is increasingly devoted to other things, they outgrow dolls at an early age. Most girls stop playing with dolls around 8 years old — maybe 10. According to Colette Shockley of the Littlest Princess Doll Shoppe in Norcross, Ga., and Glenda Jackson of Dolly Dears in Birmingham, Ala., little girls still love dolls. But it’s the grandmothers who are their best customers. Many parents feel they do not have the money or space to indulge in collectibles.

Top-Tier Survival. The auctions and sales rooms at the recent events sold some of the dolls for the highest prices remembered by those in attendance, with some antique dolls going for more than $20,000. History was made at Theriault’s Auction when a French art doll with an estimated bid of $124,000 sold for $263,000 to a Boston collector, surpassing the previous bidding record for dolls: $215,000 in 2003.

The rich and famous are collecting, but their attention is devoted to one of a kind (OOAK) dolls, rare antiques and artifacts. Only doll shops that carry high-end dolls are still in business, and many are just hanging on. In most cases, the collector is dealing directly with the artist or seller.

Quality, Not Quantity. Since collectors are looking at OOAK and antique dolls, or very limited editions, that are signed by the artist, thousands of porcelain and medium-priced vinyl dolls remain on shelves. In a recession, it is difficult for collectors to sell dolls in order to upgrade their collections, and many have simply run out of display space.

New collectors are starting at the top and buying only the best; therefore, many dolls that have been collected have not retained their value, and new dolls have even depreciated while sitting on shelves waiting to be purchased. Antiques are flourishing because many collectors have died and their children have developed their passion for collecting and the good dolls are coming back on the market. Suzanne Anderson at Old Babes in Atlanta, Ga., said she gets calls almost daily of someone wanting to sell a deceased family member’s collection.

Fashion Dolls Rule. Fashion and ball-jointed dolls, such as those by Helen Kish and Robert Tonner, have a huge following. Dolls based on fashion and comic book heroes are popular now even with males, a trend that wasn’t popular when Tonner was growing up. Doll maker Linda Rick believes individuals appreciate fashion dolls because they can afford beautiful costumes for the dolls that they either can’t afford for themselves, don’t have the figure for, or don’t have an appropriate place to wear.

A doll tea sponsored by Doll Reader at UFDC welcomed grandmothers, mothers and little girls to tour exhibits and see how dolls have evolved over the centuries. With the median age of collectors getting older, can we expect doll collecting to be gone within a couple of generations?

Time will tell, but for those who want to encourage the next generation of girls to appreciate dolls, following are some tips for parents or caretakers, as well as ideas storeowners may wish to implement or promote in their shops. As Beverly Dunasis, maker of Wisdom dolls, said, “For children to learn and [develop an] appreciation for dolls and collecting they must be taught.”

1. Give children age-appropriate dolls. Giving children dolls intended for kids beyond their age only frustrates them and may cause them to lose interest in dolls early on. Refer to the list below for age awareness.

2. Let your child choose. A child should take home the doll he or she likes, not the one you like.

3. Play dolls with your kids. This not only supports necessary parent-child interaction, but also gives you a chance to tell them about your youth and the dolls you collected.

4. Get crafty. If your girl enjoys arts and crafts, reborn a doll, make a rag doll, or sew or glue fabric together to create doll clothes, then decorate them with buttons and sequins. You can even make curtains for a doll house, and gradually add new furniture and accessories, as well as members of the doll family.

5. Choose quality. Select dolls that are safe and of high quality, like those sold in specialty toy stores. With fewer dolls, a child can focus on adding to a particular line or collection with clothing and accessories.

6. Share your magazines and collections. Children will enjoy looking through doll and toy magazines with you as much as having you read them a story. You could also take some of your dolls and talk about your collection at schools or Girl Scout meetings.

7. Take children to shows and shops. The more exposure girls have to dolls, the more they will learn about and have the opportunity to appreciate them.

8. Incorporate the doll into daily life. Let the child keep a record of the doll’s adventures, whether shopping, going on vacation, or playing with friends. Encourage the child to write a story about the doll, or put on a play featuring the character.

9. Host an event. Take children and parents through your home for a holiday tour, and answer questions about your dolls. Or, invite fellow doll collectors and their children or grandchildren over for an old-fashioned tea party with the good china.

10. Form a club. Let your child and her friends form a doll club with regular meetings. Organize an occasional art activity, plan a trip to an American Girl shop or local toy store, or help them raise money to donate dolls to a children’s home for the holidays.

11. Don’t give a child’s dolls to younger siblings. Explain to a child that his doll is his doll forever, and it should be taken care of.

Age-Appropriate Dolls

1-3 years	Soft dolls, such as those from Alexander Doll Co., Goldberger or Kathe Kruse [from Europlay]. Make sure the doll is the right size for the child to hold, carry, and cuddle.
4-6 years	Wooden paper dolls by Melissa & Doug or baby dolls by Corolle or Jakks Pacific’s Cabbage Patch line
6-8 years	Dolls with books about the characters and accessories to collect, such as KidsGive’s Karito Kids, Medieval Maidens or Mattel’s American Girl dolls
8-10 years	Fashion dolls or dolls that children can have several of for interactive play, like Only Hearts Club, Groovy Girls by Manhattan Toy, Barbie from Mattel, or fairytale characters from Tonner

See a variety of dolls below. Photos in the article are from the UFDC and ODACA gatherings.

Les Dollies - Tina by COROLLE DOLLS

Other products from COROLLE DOLLS

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