Gustav Klimt Barbie ~ Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer

Klimt's Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I is a painting by Gustav Klimt completed in 1907. According to press reports it was sold for US$135 million to Ronald Lauder for his Neue Galerie in New York City in June 2006, which made it at that time the most expensive painting ever sold.^[1] It has been on display at the gallery since July 2006. Update on ownership of painting-click here.

There is no question that I will buy this doll. She is much more than a representation of a famous painting.  A must read:  the story behind the painting is very interesting and an important part of history. 

This homage to Klimt's Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer is part of The Museum Collection which is one of three Barbie Collector series inspired by some of the world's most iconic masterpieces.

They are the Barbie Art Van Gogh Doll:

 

 

Barbie Art Van Gogh Doll

Van Gogh would cut off his other ear if he saw this doll who looks like she came straight from the set of Jersey Girls.
Not all doll collectors studied art history so it won't seem such a sacrilege to have used the wonderful, emotive brushwork and colors of Van Gogh on a flirty blonde Barbie dress. I do like the dress and the way the black organic motif winds up and over her shoulder.

Starry Night (June, 1889) by Vincent Van Gogh;  Museum of Modern Art NYC

and the Barbie Art Leonardo Da Vinci Doll:

Barbie Art Leonardo Da Vinci Doll

This doll looks very little like the portrait in every way imaginable but the colors are similarly muddy and subdued.  Restored - not so muddy.

Mona Lisa or La Gioconda (1503-1505/07) by Leonardo Da Vinci; Louvre, Paris, France

Dolls are due July, 2011. MSRP $39.99 each

Designer Ties One On or An Ungapotchked Outfit

"Exquisite"~ A New Monogram Doll ~ An MFD LE300 Exclusive ~ $175.00

In the new design tradition (don't ask)  of Tricks of the Trade Eugenia, Regal Solstice Anja, Out of the Blue Kyori and Fire Within Jordan, Integrity Toys has released a new Monogram doll called Exquisite. Sigh. 
 On Wednesday, April 20, a lottery was announced to generate excitement and sales of this doll.

Integrity Promotional Photo

 MFD  has had gorgeous exclusives from the very start of the Fashion Royalty line:

Soir De Paris LE 200 $35.00

Paradise Veronique LE 750 $35.00

Girl of the Moment Veronique LE 1000 $72.00

Overachiever Eugenia LE 450 $139.99

Marg Matsui, the owner of My Favourite Doll aka MFD has hosted several Wu conventions and is an established and important dealer.

To my knowledge, with an exclusive, the dealer arranges for the creation of and pays for the item up front. I wonder how much of the design process is shared. I think perhaps only the concept is discussed.


For the sake of Marg Matsui, I hope the dolls sell out quickly. From the comments on the W Club board, the chances of that happening quickly appear slim. But only a very small percentage of the membership actually posts so one doesn't really know what most of the W Club thinks. The rest of the dolls will be available to the collecting public after the lottery winners take theirs.

I didn't want to post large pictures of the following because one can get lost in the details. In every case below the doll fashion is either overly designed or overwhelms the doll itself. In the last case, the draping is exceedingly poor.  Dolls aren't human and can't move on a runway. The clothes have to look good on the doll with zero motion. A real model can prance and walk down a runway in such a way as to make an outrageous fashion look amazing. Dolls can't.

Several years ago I was going crazy because every Tonner Tyler Boutique item coming out had bows and ribbons. Good grief. Now they're ruffle crazy.

A Day of Ennui with Ellowyne: The Sequel

I am happy to report that Wilde Imagination is going to hold another Day of Ennui with Ellowyne. I had such a great time last year and the dolls were delightful. Robert Tonner did a bit in which he played Ello's therapist. He cracks me up every time.
It was like a mini convention complete with raffles, door prizes and competition dolls.
Last year there was a gorgeous Ellowyne and a lovely companion doll, Amber, available as well.  I'm not sure if Prudence was a centerpiece.

2010 A Day of Ennui Souvenir Doll

2010 A Day of Ennui Companion Doll

2010 A Day of Ennui

If you cannot attend but would like to pre-purchase the doll and any other table favors we might get, contact me as I will be dragging my husband along and he doesn't want the doll. ;-)  I can't imagine why.

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The info for this event follows.

Ellowyne Disenchantment  (Click here to Register)

DATE: Saturday, August 13, 2011
TIME: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
LOCATION: Wiltwyck Country Club, Kingston, NY
COST: $225

Limited to 150 Guests

Includes an exclusive Ellowyne, a fabulous lunch, a smile (possibly), poetry, brooding, whipped cream, therapist visit, tea and possibly a bit of Ennui.

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On the Friday night prior to the luncheon there will be a wine, cheese and scone event with Evangeline Ghastly at the Tonner Company Store. The details for that portion haven't been figured out yet but you can be sure it will be worth spending the weekend in the area to attend both.

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Did I mention that each table got a trough of whipped cream to go along with dessert? Well it wasn't actually a trough but it was a very large, trough-shaped serving piece.

BIC Co. Ltd. - Update

Denise Travers posted this information on the doll blogs.

I'm so sorry, This should have been posted here last night.
I want to share this news without rumor or speculation.
BIC has shut down & stopped business but most important of all is that
this is to confirm that Kazue went missing as of April 11 & not even her family
or friends know her whereabouts. She has not been heard from.
All that is happening is a tragedy. Please don't assume the worst about her
business practices. Remember this is a very DEAR woman many of us have known &
loved(& TRUSTED) for the last 9 years.
I will give details tomorrow after I speak to her family.
Denise

It is extremely disturbing to hear that Kazue is missing. She was OK after the tsunami and earthquake. She opened a Facebook account and was friending people. I'm stunned.