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Barbie, the most famous name in doll collecting, and Royal
Doulton, with its heritage stretching back almost 200 years
have come together to create a brand new bone china
figurine collection. Each limited edition figurine is directly
inspired by a Barbie Doll and the first two, Holiday Barbie
and Birthday Wishes Barbie, have been unveiled with two
more due for launch soon.
With quality, artistry and craftsmanship being key to both
brands the new Royal Doulton figurines reflect all that is so
much loved in a Barbie doll from the intricate details of her
costumes to her glamorous personality.
From the moment the Barbie doll stepped onto the fashion
scene in 1959 with her sassy ponytail and striking black
and white bathing suit, she became an international
superstar. Always at the forefront of fashion Barbie has
quietly evolved as the decades have rolled by ensuring her
position as a fashion icon and as a friend to young girls
around the world. The secret of Barbie’s success is that
she helps these youngsters to realise they have choices as
they grow up – whether as a career woman, a dancing diva
or a pop princess – and they can act out these ideas and
personalities alone or with their friends, in the safety of
their homes.
This role play was precisely what the inventor of the doll,
Ruth Handler, intended back in the 1950s. She realised
there was a gap in the market as most children’s dolls
portrayed infants rather than adults, yet children often
wanted to play at being adults. On a trip to Germany with
her daughter Barbara she discovered a toy doll – Bild Lilli,
which came with a variety of outfits - that was exactly what
she had in mind. She took it back to the States and after
reworking the design, presented it to her husband - a co
-founder of the Mattel toy company. The doll now called
Barbie, after her daughter, was launched at the toy fair on 9
March 1959 and a phenomenon was born.
Many of the early Barbies are rare and sell for considerable
sums at auction. In addition, as the success of Barbie
spread around the world and the first owners grew into
adulthood still loving their Barbies, exclusive collectors’
editions have been created. Barbie’s landmark 50th
birthday was the opportunity for several spectacular
dolls in top to toe outfits created by the leading fashion
designers of the day.
As leaders in their respective collecting markets the
partnership between Royal Doulton and Barbie is inspired,
it brings together two fantastic traditions and gives Royal
barbie meets royal doulton
by Val Bayton
royal doulton collectables australia. vol 02 – december 2011
Doulton collectors the chance to experience and share in
the passion Barbie fans have for their dolls.
The first two Royal Doulton Barbie figurines reflect all the
fabulous glamour of the original Barbie dolls. Holiday
Barbie is dressed for the festive season a voluminous red
velvet gown, accented with white faux fur, black lace and
boldly buckled belt. And Royal Doulton designers have
interpreted every last detail of the doll – including her
matching earrings and necklace, a white tiara and long
evening gloves – for inclusion on the new figurine.
Reproducing the textural details of Barbie’s beautiful
clothes in bone china has been a challenge for Royal
Doulton designers and ceramic artists, but it’s one the
team has risen to superbly. Birthday Wishes Barbie wears
a gown with a bodice made from shantung silk and
glitter print tulle and a full skirt of chiffon and taffeta, yet
these gently shimmering fabrics have all been delicately
recreated in hand painted bone china to make one of the
most romantic and pretty figurines Royal Doulton have
ever produced.
Holiday Barbie
HN 5531
Limited Edition
of 3,500
Height 22cm
RRP $199.00
2901 081
Birthday Wishes Barbie
HN5532
Limited Edition
of 4,500
Height 17cm
RRP $99.95
2901 082