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Reborn doll

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A typical reborn doll. Note the added cloth body on the limbs, and the "rear plate" to make it more realistic.

A reborn doll is a manufactured vinyl play doll that has been transformed in order to achieve as much realism as possible in order to resemble a human baby. The process of creating a reborn doll is referred to as reborning, and the doll artists are referred to as reborners.[1][2] Reborn dolls are also known as living dolls or unliving dolls.[3][4]

The hobby of reborn dolls began around 1990 when doll enthusiasts wanted more realistic dolls.[5] Over the last two decades, an industry surrounding reborn dolls has emerged.[5] Dolls generally can be purchased online or at conventions and range in price from hundreds to thousands of dollars.[6] Dolls should be carefully inspected for quality craftsmanship.

The International Reborn Doll Artists (IRDA) group was created to educate artists in the artform of reborn doll making.[7] Any artist can join the association, however certain ethical guidelines must be upheld by members.[7] In combination with this organization, an industry for reborn dolls has developed.

Creating reborn dolls involves many steps that take time. [3] The most basic form of the process involves taking a vinyl doll, adding many layers of paint, and adding other physical characteristics.[3] Different types of dolls have different characteristics that reborn artists can choose from.[8] Artists can pick different brands to best suit what doll they wish to create.[8] Consumers can also buy reborn doll kits that include doll parts and supplies to create their own reborn.[9][1] Many supplies are needed for creation. Hair is either attached individually to the head or wigs are used.[10] In combination with external modifications, internal additions, can also be added to make the reborn more realistic.[6]

Some consumers of reborn dolls use them to replace a child they once lost, or a child that has grown up.[11] Others collect reborns as they would a regular doll. These dolls are usually taken seriously and are cared for like an infant. [11] Some critics believe reborn dolls are harmful. Even though some believe they are harmful, others believe these dolls can help in the grieving process and help people relax.[12] [5] Because of their extreme realistic nature, reborn dolls have made news headlines. Stories varying from interest in the dolls to scandals involving the police have been reported.[4] [13]


History

The craft of making reborn dolls began in the United States in the early 1990s.[5] Reborning follows a long tradition of collectors, artists, and manufacturers restoring and enhancing dolls in order to portray more realism.[2] In 2002, the first reborn was offered on e-bay.[2]The niche market for the dolls began with doll collectors who admired the superior lifelike accuracy of the doll.[2] The market quickly reached those who wanted to use the doll as an emotional response, either to mother or for therapeutic purposes.[2] Mass media coverage has helped to develop the phenomenon in other countries.[5][6] Primarily reborning has grown in the Britain and Australia, but has also reached Canada, the rest of Europe, Africa, and Latin America.[5][6] This has expanded the reborn market allowing artists to open online stores which function figuratively as nurseries. Doll manufacturers have also have also taken advantage of the trend and sell supplies, tools, and accessories catering to reborn followers.[2] This has allowed reborners to invent new techniques causing the dolls to become increasingly realistic over time.[6] Magazines, books, organizations, and conventions dedicated to reborn dolls have also appeared since these events.

Fabrication

The creation of a reborn doll takes time and effort. To begin this process one must have a manufactured play vinyl doll and the necessary tools and supplies, all of which can be purchased separately. The appearance of the doll depends on the creator; however, certain reborn artists allow customers to customize their doll, usually using a photograph to replicate a child lost as an infant.[3]

Types

Any type of vinyl doll can be transformed into a reborn doll.[8] Dolls vary by size, shape, materials, making some more desirable or popular than others.[8] JC Toys Berenguer Babies is known by collectors for consistently producing dolls that closely resemble human babies in their expressions, body shapes, surface materials, and other lifelike attributes.[14] The affordable price and already lifelike qualities make them ideal and easy for reborning.[14] The Ashton Drake Dolls are another popular option due to there realistic qualities.[15] Ashton Drake uses a trademarked-material Real-Touch Vinyl Skin for the outer skin of their dolls.[16] Almost all of the Ashton Drake Dolls are created using a theme based marketing line.[16] The So Truly Real line of dolls was initiated with the debut of the Welcome Home, Baby Emily in 2003, which was created by doll artist Linda Webb.[15] Ashton Drake also produces the popular theme based collectioncalled Tiny Miracles.[16] Other popular dolls to reborn include Zapf, Lee Middleton, Apple Valley, and Secrist.[8] Retailers also offer "preemie" sized dolls, molded after premature infants.[1][6] Angel Keepers Doll Company offers a line of clothing and accessories specifically made for the smaller preemie dolls.[17] Between preemie dolls and regular dolls, sizes can range from 4 to 22 inches.[16]

Kits

Doll artists are hired by doll manufacturers to become doll sculptors and design doll molds and kits.[15][2] Artists distinguish making reborns from a kit as newborning.[9] When newborning from a kit the first several steps of the process are completed by reborn doll artists and kit producers. The kits come with the disassembled baby and select supplies, while other supplies can be purchased separately.[9][1] The Secrist doll company started making Reborn Doll Kits in 2005. [18] In 2009 they also began producing supplies, tools, and tutorial videos specifically for reborning (or newborning).[18] JC Toys began selling kits in December 2007, after realizing the popularity in reborners transforming their line of Berenguer Babies into reborns.[6] A newer company Angel Keepers Doll Company offers a Kreat-it Kits.[17] The line gives reborners choices in body parts and skin tones to make a customized doll.[17]

Supplies

Starter kits are equipped with basic reborning necessities such as limbs, faces, heads, paint brushes, eyelashes, weighting pellets, heat genesis paints, cloth bodies, cable ties, nose drill bits, fake tears, thinning shears,cosmetic foam wedges, cotton dipped applicators, and glue [6][19] These supplies may be purchased separately from a variety of retailers.[1] Heat genesis paints are an odorless, non-toxic paint that dries when the artist chooses by applying heat. The nose drill bits are used for creating and perfecting the nostrils of the doll. Acetone or a paint thinner medium is needed for removing the factory paint from the doll.[20] Hair is an optional choice to add to a doll. Fine mohair, human hair, or wigs are usually used, but it is found in a variety of types.[10] Rooting tools are utilized for this process and are available in numerous sizes 20,36,38, 40, and 42.[10] The smaller the number the thicker the needle which will grab more hair and leave a bigger hole in the head of the doll.[10] Eyes for a reborn doll are offered in a variety of brands and sizes.[21]

Reborning

The technique of reborning a play doll typically involves a number of steps. To begin the doll is taken apart and factory paint is removed.[1] Then a blue color wash is applied to the inside of each vinyl part to give the appearance of realistic baby skin undertones.[1][21] For dolls with an awake appearance eyes must be replaced.[1][21] The outer layer of the vinyl doll is given its skin tone by adding dozens of layers of flesh colored paint.[11] The doll must be baked inside an oven after each layer of paint is applied.[3] Lighter skin tone dolls can take fifteen to thirty layers.[6]The effects of the blue color wash combined with the outside layers of paint creates the appearance of veins, and gives the doll its newborn mottled look.[1] [3] Manicured nails and opening of the nose holes are other details that are added during this process.[21] [6] The next step is to apply hair. The hair can either done in one of two ways; wigging or microrooting.[11][21] When microrooting, hair is added strand by strand. [11] This can take up to thirty or more hours per head. Once the hair is finished, the original vinyl body is weighted with a soft stuffed body filled with pellets.[1] The weight corresponds with its age to achieve a real effect.[1] Various additions also can be added to give the doll an even more life like appearance.[6] Reborns heads are often weighted, so that owners have to support the head like one would a real newborn. [6]Purchasers can have magnets attached inside the mouth or head for attaching a pacifier or hair bows. [6]Electronic devices that mimic a heart beat, or make the chest rise and fall to simulate breathing are common.[6] Reborns can come with an umbilical cord, baby fat, heat packs to make the reborn warm to the touch, or voice boxes that mimic infant sounds.[22][7] For preemie dolls, they may come in incubators with a breathing apparatus attached to their nose.[6]

Collecting

Institutions have developed to aide reborn hobbyists with collecting by providing information, products, and social networking. These institutions include magazines, and associations and organizations which sponsor conferences and conventions.

Purchasing

Reborn dolls are usually found online and can be purchased through eBay, artists online stores (often termed nurseries), and conventions.[6][1] There is a large price range depending on the quality of the doll, but they can sell anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars.[6] There are many factors to look for when purchasing a reborn.[21] If the complexion is too dark this is called a blue baby, and indicates it was dyed excessively or uses colored sand for weight that could seeped into the vinyl.[21] The type of material used to weight the reborn should be considered because some materials do not react well with vynal and will cause it to deteriorate.[21] The doll should not be shiny.[21] This indicates the doll was washed with acetone before painting, which prevents the color from correctly sticking to the dolls surface.[21] It may also be caused by the type of paint used to color the doll.[21] This is corrected with a heat set matte varnish.[21] The parts used are important, as original parts may be replaced.[21] The replacement parts must be appropriately proportioned with the doll and made of quality material.[21] At times having the original body retains the dolls value either because it was made fit that specific doll, or the artist left a signature mark.[21] Eye brand, size, fitting, and alignment should be closely examined.[21] Another feature to observe is the type of paint used for coloring and whether the doll is realistic in its details such as veins and newborn imperfections.[21] The material and technique used in applying the hair may determine the quality. [21] The nose should be open with the holes correctly shaped, and the nails should be properly manicured.[21]

Associations and organizations

The International Reborn Doll Artists (IRDA) originated at the first conference for reborn doll artists on January 21, 2005. [7] The IRDA group was assembled in order to offer offer education on how to improve ones skills in the art of reborn doll creation.[7] They offer skill building tutorials and instruction so reborners can remain up to date on the newest techniques and meet others who share a common interest in reborn doll fabrication.[7] A reborn artist can join the organization at any skill level, but members are asked to uphold a list of standards that were created by the IRDA's executive board.[7] This ethical code stipulates the guidelines members are to follow in advertising, listing, and describing their dolls in order to divide credit fairly between manufacturers, sculptors, and artists.[7]

Magazines

Doll Reader magazine has been an informative source on the trends of modern doll collecting for over twenty five years. [23]In the mid 1990's it began being published nine times a year.[24] It sponsors the IDEX trade shows that feature reborn competitions and conventions.[25]

Conferences and conventions

The First Annual International Reborn Doll Artists Conference was held in Orlando, Florida on January 21-23, 2005 in conjunction with IDEX The Annual Debut of the World's Finest Collectibles.[7]. In January 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Doll Reader magazine sponsored the IDEX Reborn Competition at the First International IDEX Reborn Convention[25]. In the summer of 2008, ABC News followed a reborn convention in Illinois.[11]. ABC News was also in St. Louis Missouri to attend the first annual Tiny Treasures Show held in 2008.[26]The show features exhibitors, collectors, retailers, manufacturers, workshops, and contests for reborners.[26] Also, in 2008 the first Colliii awards show was held in Germany.[27] The awards feature a reborn category.[27] Colliii is a website for doll lovers and their award show turned out to be the largest baby doll competition in the world.[27] Reborn dolls can be found at doll fairs as well.[1]

Mothering

Almost all reborn customers are women, particularly older women.[5] Women collect reborns as they would a non-reborn doll, or purchase them to fill a void of a lost child and treat reborns as living babies.[11] Many reborn owners have gone through miscarriages, have no means for adoption, or suffer from empty nest syndrome. [11] They utilize the dolls as substitute children, or forever babies who will never grow.[11] Some women dress the dolls, wash their hair, take them for walks in strollers and take them shopping.[11] Studies suggest that when cuddling a baby, real or realistic, hormones release causing emotional well-being.[11] Reborn hobbyists refer to this behavior as cuddle therapy.[5] On a British magazine television show called Richard and Judy, psychiatrist Raj Persuad tells the host's that while mothering a real newborn baby mothers release the hormone Oxytocin which may explain a reborners attachment to the reborn doll.[28] Reborns are not "bought" or "sold" like a product.[6] Simulating the process of attaining a real child, reborns are adopted from a nursery, although money is still exchanged.[6] The dolls will often come with fake birth certificates or adoption certificates.[6]

Debate

Criticism

Reborn dolls look so real, they are mistaken for real babies. There have been reports of police officers breaking into cars to "rescue" them, mistaking them for actual infants.[29][13] For grieving parents who form emotional bonds with reborn dolls, child bereavement counselors advise against parents substituting their deceased child with the dolls. [22] Reborn mothers contend that they are not replacing children but remembering them.[22] Psychiatrist Sue Varma, teacher at the NYU school of medicine, says mothering reborn dolls rather than just collecting them can become a problem when it is used as prop and becomes the person's only form of socializing.[11] On December 10, 2008 Dr. Phil McGraw featured reborn doll segment on his daytime television show.[30] Along with guest correspondent Stefanie Wilder-Taylor, Dr. Phil discussed whether reborn doll collectors and artists were merely passionate about their dolls or were overly obsessive, to the point where they could potentially harm their relationships with friends and family.[30] Dr. Phil concluded that those who collect reborn dolls could simply be harmless collectors; however, he did recommend some conditions and boundaries to help determine the line between passion and a harmful obsession.[30] Media features and public receptions use adjectives such as "creepy" to describe the reborns. This can be explained by the uncanny valley hypothesis. This states that as objects become more lifelike they gain an increasing empathetic response, until a certain point in which the response changes to repulsion. Department stores have refused to stock the dolls because of this reaction, claiming they are too lifelike. [5]

Benefits

Psychiatrist Gail Saltz with New York Presbyterian Hospital, supports the use of reborns for people who do not want to make the commitment of having a real child, and also to comfort bereaved parents.[12] She offers that in this case the reborn may symbolize a step in the grieving process.[12] Concern should only come if someone who lost a baby grows too attached to their reborn because it could indicate their grief is not getting resolved.[12] The lifelike quality of the reborn doll risks being harmful in its absoluteness to the original.[12] Ian James, a doctor at the Centre for the Health of the Elderly at Newcastle General Hospital in the U.K., said that holding the dolls helps calm elderly residents, helping them feel peaceful and quiet.[5]

Media attention

A Typical Reborn Doll. Baby Emmaline by Donna Lee Originals.

In July 2008, police in Queensland, Australia smashed a car window to rescue what seemed like an unconscious baby only to find it was a reborn doll. The police stated that the doll was "incredibly lifelike" and that bystanders who thought a baby was dying were frightened by the incident.[29] A similar incident was reported in the United States, in which police broke the window of Hummer to save a baby that turned out to be a reborn.[13] Reborners uncovered a blogging hoax in which an anti-abortionists named Becca Bueshausen claimed she was pregnant with a terminally ill child.[31] She opened a P.O. box in order to receive gifts, money, and prayers.[31]The hoax was uncovered when reborn readers of the blog realized that the pictures of the baby posted on the blog were actually a reborn that they recognized through the familiar reborn sculpt.[31]

A December 10, 2008 episode of Dr. Phil entitled "Obsessions" discussed the topic of reborning.[30] In January 2008, a Channel 4 series, My Fake Baby, explored the lives of women who collect the lifelike baby dolls.[4] Featuring this documentary the British television magazine show on Channel 4, Richard and Judy, held an interview with the reborn artist in the documentary Janie Eaton, a collector Mary Flint, and psychiatrist Raj Persuad.[28] On January 2, 2009 an ABC News article described both the manufacturing and the emotional interaction of reborn dolls.[11], while a January 2, 20/20 episode talked about the mothering process and attachment to reborns. [32]. On January 31, 2008 Inside Edition aired a segment showing artist Eve Newsom and her reborn dolls.[33]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Walker,Rob (20 February 2005). "The Way We Live Now: Consumed: Hyperreality Hobbying". New York Times Company. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Montcombroux, Vieve Montcombroux. Simply Irresistible: What is that elusive quality that makes reborns so hard to resist?. Doll Reader Magazine. June/July 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-17
  3. ^ a b c d e f Celizic,Mike (1 October 2008). "Unliving Dolls: Women Collect Fake Babies". MSNBC News. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  4. ^ a b c "Living Doll:My Fake Baby". Channel 4. 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Attract, repel: lifelike dolls are collector cult". Reuters. 17 July 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-04. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t It's not a doll. It's a baby. Shimo, Alexandra. Maclean's. 7 April 2008. Vol. 121 Issue 13, pp. 48-49. Retrieved 2009-07-16
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Out and About People and Places: International Reborn Doll Artists. Doll Reader Magazine. June/July 2005. Vol. 33 Issue 5, p18-19. Retrieved 2009-07-22
  8. ^ a b c d e Titterton, Kevin.Baby Reborn. Doll Reader Magazine. Nov2005, Vol. 33 Issue 9, p48-51. Retrieved 2009-07-25
  9. ^ a b c Kinsey, Mindy A Reborning Rookie. Doll Reader Magazine. Jun/Jul2009, Vol. 37 Issue 5, p66-66. Retrieved 2009-07-25
  10. ^ a b c d Holper, Jeanine M. Reborn Hair Rootig Basics: Let's Talk Needles. Doll Reader Magazine. Nov2007, Vol. 35 Issue 9, p19-19. Retrieved 2009-07-24
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Not Child's Play: 'I Feel Like I Have a Real Baby'". ABC News. 2 January 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ a b c d e "Fake babies ease women's anxiety, sadness: Dr. Gail Saltz looks at the psychology of adults who "play" with reborn doll". MSNBC interactive. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-11. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  13. ^ a b c "Scary Photos: Reborn Baby Dolls Bring Rescue Effort, Fool Police". The National Ledger. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-13. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  14. ^ a b Peck, Kathryn. Something for Everyone. Doll Reader Magazine. Jun/Jul2008, Vol. 36 Issue 5, p44-48. Retrieved 2009-07-22
  15. ^ a b c Ashton Drake Galleries: Realism Rules. Doll Reader Magazine. Feb 2007.Vol. 35 Issue 2, p38-41. Retrieved 2009-07-22
  16. ^ a b c d Ashton Drake Galleries: The Smaller the Better. Doll Reader Magazine. June/July 2008.p8-9. Retrieved 2009-07-22
  17. ^ a b c Angel Keepers Doll Company: A Year Like No Other. Doll Reader Magazine. Feb2008, Vol. 36 Issue 2, p30-31. Retrieved 2009-07-25
  18. ^ a b Secrist Doll Company: Teaching and Training Reborning Enthusiasts. Doll Reader Magazine. Feb2009, Vol. 37 Issue 2, p91-91. Retrieved 2009-07-22
  19. ^ Secrist Doll Company:Fulfilling a Dream. Doll Reader Magazine. Feb2008, Vol. 36 Issue 2, p112-113. Retrieved 2009-07-26
  20. ^ Holper, Jeanine M.Hair Rooting Basics: Repairing a Vinyl Reborn Head. Doll Reader Magazine. Mar/Apr2008, Vol. 36 Issue 3, p20-20. Retrieved 2009-07-22
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Kohlscheen, Cindy. 10 Questions to Ask when Purchasing a Reborn Doll. Doll Reader Magazine. June/July 2006. Retrieved 2009-07-14
  22. ^ a b c Grieving parents turning to `super-realistic' dolls. Northern Territory News. 4 March 2007. Section: News, pg. 008. Retrieved 2009-07-05
  23. ^ Starting an EBay Business for Canadians for Dummies. John Wiley Sons Canada ltd. 2007. ISBN 978-0470839461. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  24. ^ Life Like Dolls: The Collector Phenomenon and the Lives of the Women Who Love Them. Routledge. 2004. ISBN 978-0415944503. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help); Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  25. ^ a b Lynch, Joan. Idex Reborn Convention and Competition: The bar has been raised. Doll Reader Magazine. September 2006. Retrieved 2009-07-02
  26. ^ a b Jackson, Jill. Out and About: Tiny Treasure Conference. Doll Reader Magazine. Oct2008, Vol. 36 Issue 8, p16-18. Retrieved 2009-07-25
  27. ^ a b c "About the Awards". Colliii. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  28. ^ a b Richard and Judy (hosts), Raj Persaud (guest). 6 January 2008 Richard & Judy segment on My Fake Baby (Television Program). United Kingdom: Channel 4. {{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter |date2= ignored (help)
  29. ^ a b "Frantic rescue effort saves doll, not baby". News Limited. 15 July 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-13. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  30. ^ a b c d "Dr. Phil Obsessions?". Peteski Productions, Inc. 2009. Retrieved January 29, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  31. ^ a b c "Anti-Abortion Blogger Admits Hoax: Blogger Claiming Pregnancy With Sick Child Caught in Web of Lies by Readers". ABC News. 13 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-13. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  32. ^ "When Those Cute Babies Aren't Real". ABC 20/20. 2 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  33. ^ Deborah Norville (host), Eva Newsom (guest). Reborn Babies (Television program) (in English (United States)). United States: Inside Edition.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)

Further reading

Barrow-Belisle, Michelle (2006). Beautiful Babies: The Art of Reborn Doll Making. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1411678231.

Holper, Jeanine M. (2006). Excellence in Reborn Artistry: Learn the Reborning Art: Create Reborn Dolls Instructions & Tutorial. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1-4357-1254-6.

Nakamura, Lisa (2008). Digitizing race: Visual Cultures of the Internet. The University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-0816646128.

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