Waldorf Inspired doll explanation

Not too long ago, my sister got me interested in dolls. Not just any dolls, Waldorf Inspired dolls.

Let me explain....

Rudolf Steiner developed an educational style called Waldorf education (also known as Steiner education). If you want to learn about it, start with Wikipedia - Waldorf Education and then do some research. Some people have had good experiences and some have had bad... just like everything else.

This is not really about education. It is toys. In a desire to allow children to develop empathy and creativity, the toys are simple and organic.

While the other toys are cool, the dolls are just amazing. The true Waldorf dolls are very simple, natural dolls that do not have an expression on their face. They are made of all natural materials including wool stuffing, and cotton interlock for the skin. The arms and legs are usually flexible but not all both sit and stand. The hair is typically made of mohair or bouclé.

I like the Waldorf dolls but I prefer the Waldorf Inspired dolls.

I know it sounds like semantics adding the word inspired but there is a big difference especially to the traditionalists.

Ok so what is the difference…

The inspired dolls do not follow “the rules”. Some of this is in an attempt to stand out from the crowd and some of it is just personal preference. Most dolls that would “qualify” as a Waldorf Inspired doll are made of natural or up-cycled (repurposed) materials. The most common deviations from the rules are unnatural colors, unnatural yarns added to the hair, adding noses, smiles, bottom cheeks, belly buttons, and minor adjustments to the proportions.

There are many different doll makers and clothing makers some of them so very hard to rationalize not buying when they are at a great price.

That brings up the biggest downside… price.

Newer and simpler dolls sell for right around the hundred-dollar mark. Dolls that are more difficult to make or that are more in demand are around two to three hundred dollars. There are a few more that sell for much higher but the current marked has most dolls between one and two hundred. Like other toys there is a thriving second hand market. Rather than reselling it is called rehoming as the dolls are intended as friends not property.

In the last few years, the market has expanded both in the number of doll makers and the number of dolls each maker is putting on the market at a given time. Two years ago, dolls from one of the most popular doll makers could fetch two to three times its retail price of two hundred dollars on the secondary market. This is usually not the case today. Often dolls priced at fifty to a hundred dollars under retail sit on the virtual store shelves in the secondary markets.

I know it sounds crazy to pay that much for a doll but these are not like the plastic dollar store dolls that are a dime a dozen. These dolls are often played with for years and some are even passed down to the next generation.

The other side of this is that most of the makers are small businesses or even work at home moms. When you spend money on dolls or clothes it is going to support someone’s family that you might even know. When you are buying the doll you know what it is made of and how it is made. In the end you get what you pay for.

Individuals also have the option of making their own doll. There are several groups that provide support and tips some for free and others for a price depending on the help required. The materials are not always the easiest to find and only a few stores online and off cater to the natural doll maker. Some of the shops provide partial kits while others have pre-sewn bodies and heads already wrapped and formed. Blank or Momma-Made dolls are available from a variety of  makers these are sewn and stuffed but do not have the face or hair done.

Some people have just one and others have a whole army. Most of the dolls are created with the intention of the doll ending up in the hands of a child. This does not always happen as some of the ladies buying the dolls for their kids love the dolls too and purchase them for themselves. These are called Mamma Dolls. There are also shelf dolls and closet dolls. The shelf dolls are just for looking while the closet dolls are being saved for a rainy day or future gift. These are the dolls that often get rehomed. Once a child gets a hold of the doll they don’t usually give them up.

I want to include images and links of some of the dolls I find but I think I will ask the makers first. I do not want to burn any bridges. It is a tight knit community and I like being a small part of it.

 

Wow this is kind of a long post and it is really only an over view.