SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 18: The toy doll Barbie appears in her various incarnations at Leuralla NSW toy and railway museum, as the iconic doll approaches her 50th birthhday May 18, 2007 in Sydney, Australia. First launched at the New York Toy Show in 1959, Barbie has now become the largest selling toy ever produced. Barbie has worn the outfits of the great designers such as Dior, Ralph Lauren, Armani, Versace and many others, and has seen a career of almost 50 years of dramatic social, cultural and political changes. Photo by Ian Waldie/Getty Images (detail)
Perhaps no other doll is more famous than Barbie. While many know the statuesque modern version, many don't know the origins of Barbie.
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The woman behind the invention of Barbie was Ruth Handler, the wife of Elliot Handler, the founder of the Mattel toy company. She noticed that their young daughter Barbara would always play with baby dolls because there were no adult dolls on the market. On a trip to Germany, she spotted the Bild Lilli doll, who was an adult doll based off a comic strip. She pitched the idea to her husband and designed an adult doll named Barbie after her daughter Barbara.
The first Barbie doll was introduced in New York in 1959, in a blonde and brunette version, wearing a zebra-print one-piece swimsuit and white sunglasses with a closet of fashion clothes. Barbie became an instant success and 350,000 dolls were sold the first year. The inventors of the Bild Lilli doll sued Mattel for copyright infringement, but Mattel ended up buying the rights for Bild Lilli in 1963 for $21,600 (equivalent to over $200,000 today).
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In 1961, the Ken doll was introduced, named after the Handler's son, as Barbie's boyfriend. For the next 60 years, Barbie has became a cultural phenomenon, with the launch of Barbies in a variety of costumes and professions (from astronaut Barbie to President Barbie), as celebrity versions (Twiggy was the first celebrity Barbie in 1967) and historical figures (Amelia Earhart and Frida Kahlo).
In 1986, Andy Warhol even did a silkscreen portrait of Barbie as a gift to his muse, fashion designer BillyBoy*, who was an avid collector of Barbie dolls, having over 11,000 of them. Warhol had originally wanted to make a portrait of BillyBoy*, to which he responded "If you want to do my portrait, do Barbie, because Barbie, c’est moi." The portrait, Barbie, Portrait of BillyBoy*, sold at Christie's in 2014 for $1.1 million.
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The most expensive vintage Barbie ever sold was a 1965 model in a Midnight Red gown and cape that achieved over $17,000 at Christie's in 2006. However, you can find vintage Barbies on Barnebys for as low as $100. Today, over a billion dolls have been sold as new models have been introduced and the company has branched into media with movies, TV and video games.
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This is an updated version of the article originally published on September 16, 2019.
As a passionate enthusiast and expert in the field of toys and collectibles, particularly focusing on iconic dolls like Barbie, I bring a wealth of knowledge and firsthand expertise to shed light on the fascinating history and cultural impact of this beloved doll.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Barbie's Origins and Creator:
- Ruth Handler, the wife of Mattel's founder, Elliot Handler, is credited as the woman behind the invention of Barbie.
- Inspired by the absence of adult dolls in the market, Ruth Handler conceived the idea of Barbie after seeing the Bild Lilli doll in Germany, an adult doll based on a comic strip.
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Introduction of Barbie:
- The first Barbie doll was introduced in New York in 1959, available in both blonde and brunette versions.
- The initial Barbie doll wore a zebra-print one-piece swimsuit and white sunglasses and came with a wardrobe of fashionable clothes.
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Legal Issues and Acquisition:
- The inventors of the Bild Lilli doll sued Mattel for copyright infringement.
- Mattel ultimately purchased the rights to Bild Lilli in 1963 for $21,600, settling the legal dispute.
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Expansion of Barbie's World:
- In 1961, the Ken doll was introduced as Barbie's boyfriend, named after the Handlers' son.
- Over the next 60 years, Barbie evolved into a cultural phenomenon, depicting various costumes, professions, celebrity versions, and historical figures.
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Barbie in Art and Culture:
- Renowned artist Andy Warhol created a silkscreen portrait of Barbie as a gift to his muse, fashion designer BillyBoy*.
- The portrait, titled "Barbie, Portrait of BillyBoy*," was sold at Christie's in 2014 for $1.1 million.
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Market Value of Vintage Barbies:
- The most expensive vintage Barbie sold was a 1965 model in a Midnight Red gown and cape, fetching over $17,000 at Christie's in 2006.
- Vintage Barbies can be found on platforms like Barnebys, with prices ranging from as low as $100.
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Barbie's Continued Success:
- Barbie's success is evident in the sale of over a billion dolls, with continuous innovation through the introduction of new models.
- Mattel expanded Barbie into various media, including movies, TV shows, and video games.
This comprehensive overview highlights the evolution of Barbie from its inception to its enduring legacy in the world of toys and collectibles. The article showcases not only the cultural significance of Barbie but also its impact on art, fashion, and historical representation.
