Blythe (doll)

Blythe /ˈblaɪθ/ is a fashion doll, about 28 cm (11 inch) tall, with an oversized head and large eyes that change color with the pull of a string. It was created in 1972 and was initially only sold for one year in the USA by toy company Kenner (later purchased by Hasbro). In 2000 the photo book This is Blythe was published and in 2001 the Japanese toy company Takara began producing new editions of Blythe dolls. There is a network of hobbyists who customize the doll for resale and create clothing and shoes for Blythe. Enthusiasts share photographs of their work and other types of dolls on the Internet.

History

Blythe was created in the early seventies by designer Allison Katzman at Marvin Glass and Associates and bought and produced in the USA in 1972 by the now-defunct toy company Kenner. Many years ahead of her time, Blythe dolls were only sold for one year in the U.S. (produced in Hong Kong) and also in Australia and Japan, during 1972. Over time the original "Kenner" Blythe dolls acquired a cult following of collectors and eventually, photographers. Ms. Katzman stated at the August 1, 2014 Blythe panel discussion in Seattle, Washington that while designing a fashion doll to compete with Barbie, she considered elements girls would like to be able to have, such as changing eye color. (Which were partially inspired by her teenaged daughter's tinted contact lenses.) Ms Katzman has stated that she found Betty Boop to be her main inspiration, not the said Margaret Keane orphans, as some people have assumed. She created a mock up paper doll with sliding colored gels for eyes, that she presented to the other members of her creative team. Gordon Barlow, an in house engineer, then designed the distinctive rotating cylinder with four different eye colors, changed by way of a pull string in the back of Blythe's head.

Doll

A doll is a model of a human being, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have traditionally been used in magic and religious rituals throughout the world, and traditional dolls made of materials such as clay and wood are found in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. The earliest documented dolls go back to the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece and Rome. The use of dolls as toys was documented in Greece around 100 AD. They have been made as crude, rudimentary playthings as well as elaborate art. Modern doll manufacturing has its roots in Germany, going back to the 15th century. With industrialization and new materials such as porcelain and plastic, dolls were increasingly mass-produced. During the 20th century dolls became increasingly popular as collectibles.

History, types and materials

Early history and traditional dolls

The earliest dolls were made from available materials such as clay, stone, wood, bone, ivory, leather, wax, etc. Archaeological evidence places dolls as foremost candidate for oldest known toy. Wooden paddle dolls have been found in Egyptian tombs dating to as early as 21st century BC. Dolls with movable limbs and removable clothing date back to at least 200 BC. Greek dolls were made of clay and articulated at the hips and shoulders. There are stories from ancient Greece around 100 AD that show that dolls were used by little girls as playthings. In Rome dolls were made of clay, wood or ivory. Dolls have been found in the graves of Roman children. Like children today, the younger members of Roman civilization would have dressed their dolls according to the latest fashions. When Greek and Roman girls got married they would dedicate their doll to a goddess.Rag dolls are traditionally home-made from spare scraps of cloth material. Roman rag dolls have been found dating back to 300 BC.

Blythe

Blythe is a name that comes from Middle English, and in turn from Old English bliþe ("joyous, kind, cheerful, pleasant"), and further back, from Proto-Germanic *blithiz ("gentle, kind"). Its cognates include Old Saxon bliði ("bright, happy"), Middle Dutch blide, Dutch blijde, Old Norse bliðr ("mild, gentle"), Old High German blidi ("gay, friendly") and Gothic bleiþs ("kind, friendly, merciful"). No cognates outside the Germanic languages are known.

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