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Subject matches "Plastic dolls" or its children
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Ken Doll
Mattel, 1961, Toy
Item
of 14
Ken Doll
Ken Doll
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Location
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.
Exhibitions with this item
1960s - Five Decades of Toys (1950-2000)
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Sport and leisure
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Toys
Toys
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Clothes and accessories
Toys
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Dolls
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Plastic dolls
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