Dolls based on historical figures?

Ringdoll has a few dolls based on Chinese historical figures, like Sun Ce and Zhao Yun, just to name a few. and of course Volks has their Hijikata Toshizo and Sakamoto Ryouma, amongst other pivotal figures leading up to the Meiji Restoration! however i'd say that they're more or less very loosely based off of these figures, like a reimagination of sort I don't see how it should be morally questionable or offensive, as long as they're not used by owners in that manner or created by companies for a particular political/morally dubious purpose~

I think some have an idealised version of how these characters are like, but imo it tends to be all in good fun!

 

I have a doll who is loosely based off of Bia Medici. The inspiration shows up mostly in her hair style and backstory; my doll is otherwise her own character.

 

One of my dolls is named for the real-life crusader Balian. He's very loosely based on the historical guy, but with a LOT of fantasy changes.

I would definitely draw the line at really nasty people in recent (ish) history as that could be seen as reverence for their behaviour.

 

One of my dolls' characters is based on the historical figure of Izumo no Okuni, the foundress of kabuki. Details surrounding the real Okuni's life are shrouded in mystery anyhow, so a lot of artistic license was involved in my doll rendition of her.

 

Volks has some Super Dollfies based (loosely?) on historical Japanese figures, Amamusa Shirō Tokisada and Okita Sōji among others. Technically the Dollfie Dreams from the Fate series are based on historical figures (King Arthur/Artoria Pendragon aka Saber, Jeanne d'Arc/Joan of Arc, Nero Claudius) but they're a bit more uh... anime fanservice-y and rewritten for the story's universe.

 

Mostly I wouldn't want to limit myself by having a doll based on an actual historical person rather than just representing a person who could or might have lived at that time. Many of my dolls are historically based characters, they're just not based on actual historical figures.

That means I get to decide what they're like and what they would or wouldn't wear, or do, or say without the constraints of wondering, "Would the real person have worn this, or done that, or said this...?" and "How much of what we think we know about the real person is speculation, and how much is fact...?"

Teddy

 

I think it’s a awesome idea.

For those whose spiritual path honors ancestors, I could see dolls being a good offering or “house”. Especially for ones who you might not know what they look like.

It could be of interest for history lovers as well if they don’t have a dislike or fear of dolls. Like a 5 year old Mozart or something.

Really makes you appreciate just how versatile bjds can be. So many possibilities and ways to play/display them.

 

I don't have him anymore, but I had a Soom Ender hybrid based on Pharaoh Ay (with creative liberties, as obviously, there were no photos of him).

Spoiler: Pharaoh Ay

 

I have Salvador Dali as a doll.

 

I love history, so in addition to dolls from specific time periods, I have a doll of a pharaoh's daughter and a Roman emperor.

 

A Hua Mulan-inspired doll would be really neat. Curious to see what you come up with!

Historical figures are really nothing new to dolls as a medium. From long-standing playlines like Barbie, to treasured antiquities, and a sizable niche for it in the 1/6 hobby, never mind custom works of all shapes and sizes, it's a concept persistent since time immemorial. Perceived taboos of real person-inspired dolls are very much exclusive to our community, and for why I can't possibly fathom; the desire to create, particularly in the image of others, is as widely treasured as is natural, forming a core part of what makes us uniquely human.

I'm very much an individualist; not in the self-serving, 'rugged' sort of way, but in my strong belief of being true to one's self over cultural compliance. In this case: your dolls, your rules. Anyone that disagrees can—and absolutely should be—curating their own experience.

Honestly, I can't think of anyone from the past I'm particularly interested in enough to turn into doll form (though I'd be lying if I said I wasn't now imagining how cute Sappho would be, especially with that Grecian-inspired SartoriaJ gown ), but I do have a doll based on a real person. For me, there's nothing limiting about it; playing stylist and penning elaborate, fantastical "what if" narratives to place her in is a never-ending joy that keeps my creative brain working when I'm otherwise too burnt out to do anything else.

 

I really like dolls based on historical figures or legends.
So I know about the Ringdoll 'The Order of Devil Conqueror' series and Angell Studio had the most handsome men in ancient China (LanLing / PanAn / Wei Jie / Song Yu) on their page. Unfortunately, not all of them are made anymore.
As for the Loongsoul dolls, I'm not sure if some of them are also based on historical figures. (My knowledge of Chinese history is too poor for that.) But I can well imagine that this could be the case.

 

For me it's more fun to find a doll that works and come up with a design myself!

 

I did like dollshe's Leonardo Dicaprio but ...dollshe

 

I'm sorry but the moment I read the title I imagined a chubby benjamin franklin as a bjd. I shook myself..

but fr I think historical figures made into bjd or having bjd dressed up and painted to look like them would be amazing. Lots of civil rights movement people would make amazing figures and there are so many photography opportunities. It'd also be great to share pictures of dolls like these with text about their background and stories.