the gothic toybox

March 28, 2005 10:08 AM

Strange dolls
posted by madamjujujive (29 comments total)

That's just freaky. I don't know what else to say.
posted by shoppingforsanity at 10:19 AM on March 28, 2005

Very creepy...
The stuff of many childhood nightmares..
posted by Balisong at 10:20 AM on March 28, 2005

I wonder if these really would be creepy to children. Is there something about being an adult that gives them their edge?
posted by 327.ca at 10:26 AM on March 28, 2005

I wonder if these really would be creepy to children.

Well, OK. I just looked at the Shadow Box dolls. Yup, a kid would find them pretty creepy too...
posted by 327.ca at 10:27 AM on March 28, 2005

Cool!
posted by DieHipsterDie at 10:27 AM on March 28, 2005

Holy shit! Thanks!
posted by sciurus at 10:28 AM on March 28, 2005

Those dolls need to eat.
posted by Peter H at 10:32 AM on March 28, 2005

Neat post. Reminds me of the self-portrait dolls that some survivors of cancer make...
posted by Specklet at 10:41 AM on March 28, 2005

These are awesome. I want one of each. For some reason I don't find these nearly as creepy as "normal" dolls, perhaps because they're so off the wall and intentionally odd. I'd feel more comfortable with Doctor Scops sitting in the corner of my room than something like this.
posted by LeeJay at 10:52 AM on March 28, 2005

Thank you for replacing clowns as one of the most terrifying phenomenons in my life.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:52 AM on March 28, 2005

is there a name for this style of creepiness? the corruption of childhood images... what else fits into this category? certainly tim burton, american mcgee's games , bad horror movies. anything else?

also, check out paxton gate, a great store in SF that sells creepy dolls and taxidermied animals along the same lines.
posted by dj_fraudulent at 10:53 AM on March 28, 2005

For your little goth niece (assuming you never want to talk to her parents again).
posted by caddis at 11:10 AM on March 28, 2005

also, check out paxton gate, a great store in SF that sells creepy dolls and taxidermied animals along the same lines.

I want these taxidermied piranhas. They're badass!

And yes, Tim Burton is exactly what springs to mind when viewing those dolls!
posted by shoppingforsanity at 11:22 AM on March 28, 2005

Ah, we are right about the Tim Burton connection.
posted by of strange foe at 11:30 AM on March 28, 2005

I bought this yesterday. very odd, very odd indeed.
posted by clavdivs at 11:31 AM on March 28, 2005

That's a huge magnifying glass!
posted by sonofsamiam at 11:33 AM on March 28, 2005

Polymer clay became popular, and readily available in craft stores, in the early 90s. I think the ability to bake polymer clay in the oven, instead of needing to use a large kiln, brought out a lot of new doll artists.

See also the dolls created by Ugly Shyla
posted by Ariadne at 12:07 PM on March 28, 2005

Interesting that there's a "copyright owned on these images - bloggers beware" message next to images when the artist seems completely unbothered about other peoples intellectual property. I'm hoping that Tim Burton, Neil Gaiman and J K Rowling aren't as bothered as Beth Robinson about somebody making money from their respective franchises.
/snipe
posted by seanyboy at 12:09 PM on March 28, 2005

Legalarium Copyrightyium Invisibulus..ium

posted by seanyboy at 12:15 PM on March 28, 2005

If you want creepy taxidermy, I don't think I've seen anything so disturbing recently as the idea of making Pillows out of Former Pets. I know it's just animal hide, so it shouldn't seem so weird to me, but it really does seem weird.
posted by willnot at 1:31 PM on March 28, 2005

Were these supposed to induce a stomach ache? Because I got one now.
posted by tkchrist at 1:35 PM on March 28, 2005

Yeah, I saw those Pet Pillows a few days ago. NASTY. What kind of weirdo would do that? Never mind, forget I asked.....
posted by shoppingforsanity at 1:53 PM on March 28, 2005

madamjujujive, you are a strange doll.

Great post.
posted by soyjoy at 2:05 PM on March 28, 2005

LeeJay: For some reason I don't find these nearly as creepy as "normal" dolls, perhaps because they're so off the wall and intentionally odd.

Maybe it's an uncanny valley issue (PDF link)

posted by tippiedog at 2:15 PM on March 28, 2005

Maybe it's an uncanny valley issue (PDF link)

That actually explains a lot. Thanks for the link.
posted by LeeJay at 2:44 PM on March 28, 2005

Edward Gorey would be proud.
posted by Viomeda at 5:02 PM on March 28, 2005

Holy crap, these are mesmerizing. Dolls that make me go "Eeeeeeeee!" Thank you, madamjjj. I think seeing these opened a little door marked with sooty little handprints in the back of a cupboard in an unused room in my brain.
posted by lobakgo at 5:40 PM on March 28, 2005

I like these so much, thank you!
posted by Lizc at 4:59 PM on March 29, 2005

cool ! nola likes :)
posted by nola at 8:17 PM on March 29, 2005