It is no wonder that the amazing Sybarite dolls of multi-talented eccentric duo Desmond Lingard and Charles Fegen would find their way in a museum. Don't let your mind think of dusty old relics or sacred remains. Instead, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum launched an exhibition of their much revered "White Chalk" Sybarites: the Spellbound collection.


The launch reception was on the 31st of July, and the designers were present to welcome everyone to admire their outstanding work. Admission is free throughout the exhibition, so if anyone is in Los Angeles, do not miss this. The Gothic setting and the amazing hand-made detailed outfits of the dolls shown is so enticing.


Some details about the show: the dates are July 31, 2014 till August 16, 2014, from 10am to5pm at the FIDM Museum, 919 S. Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90015.(Ground Floor, Park Side) tel. 213.623.5821.

The Sybarite is a 16 inch resin artist-doll created by London artists Desmond Lingard and Charles Fegen in 2005. Sybarite dolls are fully articulated mannequin-like dolls and have appeared in several fashion trades (French Revue des Modes, Style.com, Women's Wear Daily). HauteDoll features Sybarites on the Covers of their magazines. The designers work under the "Superdoll" moniker and produce the dolls for a collector market. Previous to artist dolls, Fegen worked in the fashion industry as a clothing designer. Early dolls were handmade in London by Lingard and Fegen in their workshop. As the dolls went into the mainstream market, manufacturing moved to China. The dolls have 17 points of articulation, and have strung bodies similar to the Super Dollfie dolls from Japan. The Sybarite doll was introduced shortly after Asian ball-jointed dolls were gaining popularity, but differ in that they are high fashion mannequins versus the Asian ball-jointed dolls' anime inspired childlike quality.

Visiting the German city of Worms in the last months, I went, among other places, to the city museum, housed in an old abbey. In the diverse collection of artefacts housed there, there were some antique dolls and a big doll house. I felt I had to post them here.

In this glass display you can see a porcelain doll and many miniature household items and doll furniture along with a toy train:


Here is the doll house exhibited - I wonder how rich was the family that owned this.


And a close up to see the outstanding detail involved:

If I had the space at home, and could afford it, I'd love to own such a doll house! Wouldn't you?