Collectibles -> Animation Art, Characters -> Bratz

Bratz Dolls, produced by MGA Entertainment, are similar to Barbie Dolls in that kids (and adults) love them and love to collect them. But there’s no mistaking a Bratz Doll for a Barbie Doll, not even at a glance. Bratz Dolls are shorter at only 10 inches compared to Barbie’s height of 11.5 inches. Though they’re shorter, they’re chunkier dolls than Barbies, because the dolls features and proportions are slightly larger. They’re further distinguishable from Barbies because they’ve actually replaced her as the top seller in some parts of the world.

Bratz Dolls are relatively new. Cloe, Yasmin, Sasha and Jade, the original dolls, appeared in 2001 and quickly took the doll world by storm. They’re now available in almost 70 countries. And the Bratz line has grown to include new dolls that are friends of the original spunky four, mini-dolls, games, video games, movies, spin-off doll lines, music, a television series, and dozens of other kids’ products from bikes to bedding.

Bratz Dolls are unique, not just because of their sassy appearance, but because the heads are made from hard vinyl, and the feet come off completely. These dolls have predominant feet to show off the stylin’ shoes the girls wear. When it’s time to change to a new, cool pair of shoes, there’s no need to wrestle small shoes onto their feet, the entire foot/shoe combo comes off at the doll’s ankle allowing for quick accessory changes.

Something else that sets Bratz Dolls apart is the makeup the dolls wear, and the focus on appearance and fashion. Some say they flaunt the bad qualities of materialism and narcissism. Some of the clothes have caused a stir, too. Skimpy outfits and outfits that look straight from the pages of Vogue have bothered some parents who feel that they don’t represent good values and that they put even more pressure on girls to look and act a certain way.

But Bratz Dolls have won several industry awards like Toy of the Year and Character Brand License of the Year, in addition to awards given by other organizations like Disney’s Family Fun and the Toy Industry Association. They also represent different ethnicities, instead of just offering blonde, blue-eyed dolls, which is one major point of appeal for kids and adults alike. They come with cool accessories that kids love, and girls tend to collect and play with the dolls longer than they do Barbies, so they have pre-teen and early teen appeal. Long after many girls stop playing with dolls, they still love these fashionable dolls.

When collecting Bratz Dolls, online auctions are probably the best place to find them. Because they’ve only been manufactured since 2001 you’ll want to purchase dolls that are in the original condition, with no wear, repairs or restoration. At the very least, any changes need to be detailed by the seller, as they drop the value. It’s also important to make sure the original packaging is intact and the doll is in the original outfit.

Originally posted 2008-10-07 14:00:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Antiques -> Decorative Arts -> Figurines

One of the most popular forms of antique collectibles are antique dolls and there are some that can bring in an astonishing amount of money. Whether you have an old collection of vintage dolls, or you are trying to find one to complete your collection, there are several collector’s items that can be worth a lot of money. Here’s a quick guide to the most valuable antique dolls that are currently on the market and widely available to collectors.

Madame Alexander Dolls

These are incredibly popular antique dolls and many of them are worth a great deal of money. If you can find older editions that are in good shape, you can end up with quite a good investment. These dolls are among the most ornate and can fetch five figures or more at auction. Look for dolls that are hand painted and still have their original outfits in good shape. They will be the ones that will have the highest values.

Barbie Dolls

America’s love affair with Barbie has been going on for decades, and these dolls remain some of the most popular on the market. While the new ones produced every year have some value, especially the collectible editions, it is the antique dolls that will have the highest sale prices. One of the best places to find a huge amount of Barbie dolls are online auction sites. However, you can come across a rare find at a garage sale, if you keep your eyes open.

Raggedy Ann Dolls

Who would think as simple rag doll could be valuable? Antique dolls of Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy are actually worth a pretty penny and they are incredibly hard to find. If you have an old doll sitting up in the attic, it may be time to dust it off and get it appraised. Originals are highly sought after and collectors will pay a great deal of money to get their hands on one.

Limited Edition Dolls

There are many companies that put out dolls many years ago, and although they may not have the prominence of Madame Alexandar dolls, many of these antique dolls are worth a lot of money today. If you come across a porcelain doll that is more than fifty years old and in great shape, you may want to get it appraised. You never know, you may just have a gold mine on your hands.

Antique dolls are a great collectible and it is fun to get children interested in them. Keep in mind however that valuable dolls don’t belong in their little hands, since it is all too easy to break them. If you do decide to display them in your home and you have young children, it is best to lock them up so that they are not harmed. Children may not mean to break things, but it can be devastating to lose a valuable doll. It is simply easier to do all that you can to protect them.

Photo Credits: gailf548

Originally posted 2008-09-29 05:35:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Dolls-and-Bears -> Barbie-Vintage-Pre-1973 -> Structures-and-Furniture

The first Barbie Dream House was introduced in 1960, and could fold up into a small box that was easily carried around by a little girl. Ponytail Barbie, the Barbie whose hair was pulled back into a ponytail with short bangs in front, wanted nothing more than to live in her dream house and hang out with her friends. These Dream Houses have been a popular Barbie item since their introduction, and are still being created today in various forms.

A vintage Barbie Dream House, though, is something many collectors clamor for. Whether it’s that original house with a plaid couch and a television console that was just as long as the couch, or a more modern 80s dream house, collectors love to purchase these items. For many, it takes them back to their childhood spent playing with Barbies and the Dream House they had (or wanted but never got) as a child. For others, it’s part of the lure of collecting dolls and their accessories.

An online auction site like eBay is a wonderful place to look for the Barbie Dream House you want. Because they’re not small items, you might decide you just want one. Maybe you want one that would have been the one you had as a child. Or maybe you want one from your favorite era of toys and Barbie dolls. Some collect all they can afford.

If you plan on collecting more than one Barbie Dream House, then you should decide what criteria you’ll go by when purchasing them. You might decide that you’ll set a price limit—you won’t purchase a Dream House that costs more than your limit. Some mint condition Barbie Dream Houses cost $1000 or more. It might not be that important for you to have a mint condition toy.

If you want a Barbie Dream House that’s still in decent shape, you should be able to find one for less. It won’t be mint condition, but good condition. Often these will have some wear. Considering the earliest Dream Houses were often made of cardboard, in and out, that they’re in good condition at all is amazing, especially given how played with some of these toys were. Few little girls got a Barbie Dream House for Christmas and then set it on a shelf. Barbie lived there, and invited all her friends over regularly! So while a cardboard house will show some wear, particularly on the outside and the corners, you might find that an acceptable compromise and just consider your collectible Dream House a well-loved toy, instead of one that’s mint.

Later versions contained plastic and vinyl, and eventually they became all plastic and grew to 2 stories and then 3, with things like an elevator that moved up and down and other moving parts. The décor changed to match the times, ensuring that each generation could purchase a modern home. The Barbie Dream House is one of the best loved toys every created, and that should make any toy collector want at least a few.

Originally posted 2008-12-24 05:00:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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• Antique Dolls Antiques -> Decorative Arts -> Figurines One of the most popular forms of antique collectibles are antique dolls and there are some that can bring in an astonishing amount of money. Whether you have an old collection of vintage dolls, or you are trying to find one to complete your......
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There is a great deal of variety out there when it comes to collecting dolls, such as Barbie collectibles for example. There are dolls that are designed to be toys, and here are dolls that are designed to be collectibles, and Barbie dolls are no exception to the rule because some Barbie dolls are for collecting and others are for playing with. Dolls have existed in a myriad of different forms all throughout history, and many people therefore are quite interested in keeping them as collectibles. Some people focus completely on Barbie collectibles while others focus on collecting all types of dolls. While the history of Barbie dolls is extensive, the history of dolls as collectibles goes much further.

First Dolls

Dolls have been around ever since ancient times. They were used for the purpose of children’s toys, and they also represented other things such as religious figures for example. Dolls were made out of a wide variety of different materials back then including animal fur, wood and clay. No dolls have been found that go as far back as prehistoric times except for a fragment of a doll that was found in Babylon. Dolls have been in children’s graves in Egypt, Greece and Rome.

European Dolls

Between the 16th century and the 17th century, Europe began to construct rather simple dolls from wood. They began to use other materials like paper mache and wax beginning by the 1800s. This is around the same time that porcelain began to be used for this purpose as well. Porcelain proved itself capable of being more durable than the other popular materials, and that is why many porcelain dolls have survived through the ages.

Modern Dolls

Today there are many dolls that are still being crafted out of porcelain and numerous other materials. Dolls are found that resemble famous figures, cartoon characters, comic characters and real people. Other dolls are designed specifically in order to showcase different styles of fashion. Some dolls resemble princesses and queens. Barbie dolls came onto the market in the latter half of the 1950s, and the popularity of Barbie collectibles is still going quite strong. Barbie was intended for teenagers initially, but now there is a Barbie to suit every need, even Ken dolls for boys to play with. Barbie collectibles are becoming increasingly popular, especially as Barbie dolls are released to be played with as well as collected.

Today’s Dolls

Dolls have become a truly popular item for collecting. Many people keep Barbie collections and collections of other types of doll as well. Dolls have never lost popularity as being a plaything for children. Dolls have certainly come quite a long way since ancient times, and they will continue to grow and evolve with time as well.

Photo Credits: Ro / wererabbit

Originally posted 2009-08-13 05:45:23. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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