Cabinet of curiosities & Inspirations since 2009

Cabinet of curiosities & Inspirations since 2009
*I Don’t Own the Rights to These Photos*

22 nov. 2008

Pop Culture: Before Barbie there was Bild-Lilli


" Oh! you beautiful doll,
you great big beau-ti-ful doll!
Let me put my arms a-bout you,
I could nev-er live with-out you;

Oh! you beau-ti-ful doll,
you great big beau-ti-ful doll!
If you ev-er leave me how my heart will ache,
I want to hug you but I fear you'd break

Oh, you beau-ti-ful doll! "

1911 (Nat D. Ayer / Seymour Brown)





Silkstone Doll -The Artist - 2008 - Japan exclusive

2007 - Wide Eyed Girl - Repainted Barbie by Dan LeeReroot

Bild-Lilli was a sexy cartoon character, created by Reinhard Beuthien, 
that first appeared in the German Bild newpaper on June 24, 1952.

Bild - Lili 1952

 Her persona was that of a country girl who had come to work in a newspaper office in the big city, a curvaceous girl with a quick wit, who wore her blond hair in a high ponytail and favored perilously high heels with her tight skirts and capri pants. The Bild-Lilli cartoon was such a big hit with readers that it was decided to produce a Lilli novelty doll, aimed at the adult readers rather than children.


Bild-Lilli was a sexy cartoon character, created by Reinhard Beuthien,
 that first appeared in the German Bild newpaper on June 24, 1952.


Lilli's creator Reinhard Beuthien lived in Hamburg in the fifties.
He was inspired by the self conscious urban woman.
and by the woman of the Reeperbahn 
(sex-disdrict of Hamburg).

It's why this doll have so much sex appeal.

 
The fashions and aspiration of the Youth was influenced 
by the American way of life based on Hollywood cinema 
and the way the American soldiers (with their families) lived here in Germany.

On August 12, 1955 Lilli was first sold in Germany, 
through outlets such as cigarette kiosks and a few toy stores.


The idea to market the cartoon girl as a fashion doll grew after it 
caused a flurry of excitement mainly by the male readers.
However, it wasn’t easy at all to transform that two dimensional 
drawing into a cheeky sexy looking pin up girl. 
That this intention succeeded has something to do with the 
long and successful tradition of doll manufacturing in Germany.


 The motivation and the tendency to perfectionism of 
Max Weißbrod who was the leading sculptor of the Hausser company, 
Germany’s biggest toy manufacturer at that time. 

If she reminds you of a Barbie doll, that is because Bild-Lilli 
was the inspiration for Barbie.



Ruth Handler, the founder of Mattel, bought a few Bild-Lilli dolls 
when shopping in Europe in 1956 and on her return to the USA, 
gave her "discovery" to her engineers with instructions 
to make a similar doll suitable for children.
The result was the first Barbie of 1959.

#1 Ponytail Barbie® Doll #850

These days Bild-Lilli has found recognition among serious Barbie collectors, 
with original Bild-Lilli dolls fetching up to $3,500 US 
or more at auction, easily rivalling the No 1 Barbies.

              Still a #1 and #2 Ponytail Barbie® Doll #850 in original swimsuit of 1959 in perfect condition can be found at $9,990 US like here.


Today, Vintage Barbie dolls can be found in replica for adult collectors.

 Wide Eyed Girl - Repainted Barbie by Dan LeeReroot

If you want to buy the #1 Barbie of 1959 here for $39.95.
I recommend you if you have a kid next to you who want a doll
 to buy a great replica from Pop Culture.
I warm you it's super kitch but perfect .....
The Barbie dolls that you find today in shops are most of the time ugly.

 Wide Eyed Girl - Repainted Barbie by Dan LeeReroot

Different trends and designs that reflect today's world and fashion.
 that can be found today for adult doll's collector.
You can find fashion dolls at affordable prices.

 Wide Eyed Girl - Repainted Barbie by Dan LeeReroot

I try to select the most fashionnable ones.
The Dolls from this selection can be bought on:
The wideeyedgirls ( repainted barbie dolls)
and this fashion dolls website Marl & B .


I hope that you enjoy this first post on pop culture.