Monday, March 8, 2021

Barbie Fashion Dolls by Mattel

       Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration. Read more . . .
Barbie and her friends were only four years old when this ad
was included in the Sears and Roebuck Catalogue. Dolls shown
above include: Barbie, Ken, Midge from 1963, came with wigs!

How to Identify Your Barbie

Year of Make: Doll body parts are copyrighted frequently in different years. The production of face molds may be earlier or later produced than the body they are attached to. This is why dating Barbie dolls may be quite difficult if the doll doesn't have an original box or costume.

Country were parts are made: Barbies have been produced in many different countries but knowing where these parts come from will help a collector determine era that the doll was designed in.

Trademark: Barbie is made by Mattel. There are many other companies that produce 11" - 12" fashion dolls. So look for the makers mark or word "Mattel" when identifying Barbie and her counterparts.

Face Mold: face molds are frequently named, sometimes with an actual name and at other times with a phrase or number. This is a very old, traditional way of identifying all kinds of dolls that have been produced by doll manufacturers throughout history from many different countries. Always check the back of Barbie's head to get the date she was made. Her body parts may have different dates but these are only for the doll's body parts not her actual date of design or face mold.

Barbie Identification by Melillo, the
best - 1959 to 1995, for face molds

  1. Barbie face mold from 2005 includes hot pink lipstick and dark eye shadow
  2. Christie face mold - this was the first friend to Barbie that was also African American - Read more about her at Neoshaloves.
  3. Barbie face mold from 1998 with ash blond hair and darker white skin. She also has a beauty mark under her left eye.
  4. Kira Miko face mold is Asian but she is actually a native of Hawaii not Japanese! (Kira is her first name, Miko her last name, some collectors interchange these but calling her face mold "Miko" is like calling a doll's face mold "Smith." "Miko" is a surname or last name.) Read more about her at Kattis Dolls here.
  5. Teresa face mold - is the Spanish Barbie face sculpt. See how Teresa changed over time by ToysND
  6. Barbie face mold from 1998 with lighter skin and blonder hair. Her eye shadow is rosy and her lips bright red!
  7. Nicki face mold - Nicki was first an African American friend for Skipper, but she was also later made into an adult version friend for Barbie. Nicki face mold are still mass produced and sold today and has replaced the Christie face mold altogether. ( I think, maybe not.) Nicki's fame has climaxed to the MAX because of froggy, of course! see Sophie, froggy's famous character with a Nicki face.
  8. Barbie face mold, another from 2005, with lavender lipstick, no bangs, low arched eye-brows

Hair Color and Style: The hair color and style will help a dealer or collector date and identify a Barbie faster than a copyrighted face mold or body part. This is because sometimes Barbie dolls are not assembled until years after their parts have been manufactured. So a doll with older parts may not be actually sold to the public for several years after it has been stamped with the year. Also hair styles are definitely dictated by decade when it comes to Barbie. 

Skin Tone: Skin color on a Barbie doll does not determine the doll's face mold label or name. Barbies that have different skin colors are still Barbies if they have a face mold that is identical to those faces labeled "Barbie." Names of Barbie's friends and family are given to different face molds not skin tones. There have been a few exceptions to this rule for Barbie manufacturers because of advertising campaigns and also because of issues that have to do with supply and demand for cancelled doll designs. However, the vast majority of doll producers identify dolls by face molds and therefore, keep to the consistent practices set by doll designers.

Feet: Holes or not in the bottom of the doll's feet will determine it's age. Earlier dolls where manufactured in such a way as to cause the feet of the doll's to be punctured. Knowing this helps collectors to determine the age of a doll overall. However, many people put Barbies together with old parts so this type of information is not always reliable.

Hands and Arms: positions of elbows and fingers vary, also palms face outside or to side

Eye Types: Eyes may be hand-painted or decal on Barbie dolls.

Body Types: There are many new shapes for Barbie bodies now so this can also help identify your doll as long as the head and body are original. "Made to move Barbie" bodies are move expensive but easier to play freely with. Many doll collectors actually switch out their Barbie bodies with these preferable body types. The Ballerina back and Shani front styled body is the most traditional and also the most controversial figure. Read all about eleven controversies surrounding Barbie!

Clothing: Barbies that are dressed as they were new-in-the-box, are very easy to identify as long as the clothing is original.

More Posts About Barbie, Her Friends and Family,  plus The New Fashionistas: 

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