orfeascradle.bravehost.com

Not so long ago, in my passion for all things brand new, objet d'arte, "realismo", I began collecting one of a kind ultrarealistic baby dolls.  The next step has been, in the reinvention of myself as, one hopes, an astute collector, to begin to offer some of my "finds" to others.  The pieces I collect are spectacular representations of this magical burgeoning art form. 

In recent days I have begun embellishing and rebuilding some of the dolls I collect-- augmenting coloring, thinning "hair', reweighting bodies and limbs.  Therefore I now think of the pieces I acquire as having been "new(ly) born" by the artisan working with the kit or mass market doll for the first time, and "reconceived" by BelCherubino.

Any artisan objecting to the revision of an acquisition should be reassured by several things:  one-- I only revise if, as a fellow doll artisan, I feel that the doll can be improved upon, or the workmanship demands it.  Secondly, I will always disclose all information relevant to a doll upon sale.  Please feel free to e-mail me at palabrasymas@hotmail.com; for great copywriting to promote your doll crafting review my portfolio at http://www.palabrasymas.bravehost.com .   

A doll is rendered a baby by any other name...meet Angelika, soon to dwell in Orfea's Cradle...

These fabulous dolls are either made by disassembling and "reconceiving" a quality mass market doll or from one of many stunning kits available from online doll stores.  The head and limbs are cleansed, "veined", detailed, treated with heat-cured oils; the head is microrooted with angora kid mohair, eyes are glass or silicone; custom jointed "doe-suede" bodies are filled and weighted with top materials for realistic weight. Then the doll is assembled and dressed; the work of top artisans is remarkable!

Detractors complain that some kind of boundary between art and life is violated in the "verissimo" of these dolls.  This is a debate that could go on and on.  We think that anything that assuages maternal yearning, elicits tenderness from a person, and beautifies one's life can only be a good thing. A UK documentary slammed these dolls, calling them "fake babies".  Dolls have always been fake babies, we think.  Coppelia-like, they only dance if imbued with the breath to dance in the soul of the beholder. Pictured below:

This is beautifully Katia, from the limited edition "Catherina" kit from Nederlands sculptor Anneke Doeven, masterfully interpreted by "Lil' Darlins"-- aglow with impassioned artisantship.