by Janet Trieschman

Created on: January 13, 2009

Paper dolls, a past time of many little girls (and some older one's too!) have taken on collector's status. Whether they are cut out, punched out or self made, many hours of enjoyment have been gained through make believe playtime. Paper dolls have regained popularity as well as the manufacturers transforming them into virtual paper dolls where a girl using her computer can drag and drop clothing onto doll images or print out paper dolls in popular celebrity likenesses.

History

According to Judy M Johnson of "The Doll Sourcebook", paper dolls have existed about as long as there has been paper. As early as AD 900, there was an ancient Japanese purification ceremony that included a paper doll like figure wearing a paper wrapping similar to a kimono. The first mass produced paper doll was Little Fanny who was produced by S&J Fuller, in London 1810.

Identification

The construction of a paper doll consists of a doll made of paper, possibly thicker paper similar to cardboard. The outfits that adhere to the doll typically do so from the use of paper tabs. These outfits are traditionally made from thinner paper than the doll. Paper dolls can also be made from plastic, clothe or wood and utilize a variety of different techniques for adhering the clothing. These connects can be made with magnets, Velcro or static cling to name a few.

Types

Paper dolls have transformed into magnetic dolls, vinyl cling dolls, felt dolls, and fabric dolls utilizing Velcro or fibers connecting to each other like felt boards do. These material changes have made the popularity of paper dolls and longevity of paper dolls last another decade if not longer.

Function

Paper dolls not only are toys but historically they have been used as advertisements, in magazines and newspapers. Vintage versions have become highly collectible due to the disintegrating nature of paper. The mainstream acceptance of paper dolls can be noted by their existence on McDonald's Happy Meal boxes, the epitome of mainstream modern culture.

Paper dolls can range from two-dimensional dolls to three-dimensional dolls. They can be mass produced, collector's items, an art form or made from scratch. The amount of detail and materials can affect the price of a paper doll. Whether they are mass-produced or artistically one of a kind can also affect their price and popularity within the world of collectors. The theme or style of the paper doll can also effect the pricing.

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