Ken Doll

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

20758

Title

Ken Doll

Description

A plastic Ken doll with a semi hard vinyl head. The toy has blue painted eyes, painted eyebrows and a moulded nose and mouth.
The hair is coloured blonde and styled with a flock crew-cut. Wearing a red and cream knitted jumper, grey trousers, black socks and black plastic shoes. The limbs of the doll are jointed for movement.

Artist / maker

Mattel

Date

1961

Size

30.5 x 9.5cm

Type

Toy

Location

Museum of Childhood

Accession number

MC10316

Ken was introduced to the world as Barbie's boyfriend in 1961. Introducing a male doll was quite a risk for manufacturers Mattel, as male dolls never sold as much as female dolls. It seems marketing the Ken doll as a stylish companion to Barbie with a fashionable wardrobe ensured the success of Ken.
Barbie revolutionised the doll industry when Mattel Inc. introduced her in 1959. Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel, was inspired to make a teenage doll after watching her daughter, Barbara, playing with paper fashion dolls. Barbie was an instant success with girls across America and soon became a world-wide sensation. Over time, Barbie has acquired friends and family, as well as a dazzling range of clothes, accessories and equipment.

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Related subjects

Sport and leisure > Activities > Toys

Toys > Dolls > Clothes and accessories

Toys > Dolls > Plastic dolls