Is it okay to mod a rare head?

If they were made as truly artwork, they would not sell them as expensive toys to play with, but would place them in a gallery, as I am sure they do already. The fact is, they have no say in what happens to a doll once it is out of their hands, they know this, and I am sure they have better things to do than worry about someone carving a scar into a doll's face, or sanding it's nose.

Really, any reasoning any one gives against this, the answer stays the same. Once the dolls is in it's new owner's hands, it is subject to whatever the owner wishes to do with it. So the answer to the OP question remains the same: YES. It is okay. Why? Because it is your doll and you do what you want with it. End of story.

 

Artwork does not exist solely within the confines of museums and galleries, and in fact artists of all mediums do indeed sell their artwork directly to collectors. Although I'm sure many of the companies view their products as expensive toys and encourage modification, not everyone does. And I never said they do worry about someone modding their dolls, I was just responding to the question of is it "okay" to mod a very rare sculpt, and since the concept of 'right and wrong' is subjective and philosophical, merely giving my personal opinion on the subject.

There is no one correct answer to this question, just opinion.

If the question changed to 'Can I mod a rare and limited sculpt I own', of course the answer is yes because they own it and it's not illegal to mod bjds.

 

Most BJD companies sell mod equipment. If they wanted the dolls to remain factory default they most likely would have marketed them that way. Instead they encourage people to sand, paint, swap hands/feet and mod. For the BJD creators, I don't imagine that there is any misunderstandings about what might happen to one of their dolls. I do think it's unfortunate for a collector of a certain type of doll to see one of the VERY rare dolls transformed into something unrecognisable. But it's so engrained in the hobby to customise that collectors need to accept that a coveted doll might be modded rather than resold to someone who loves it as is.

 

I wanted to bring back the original question because it is kind of lost in the shuffle. The question was this:

"I mean a doll that is discontinued, older and there are

--->>> ONLY 3 OTHERS IN KNOWN EXISTENCE".


Yes, these dolls belong to the person who paid for them, and yes they are made to be customized. But, I do believe that some of the dolls I've seen are artistic masterpieces that I hope are saved as they are. Those are the ones that could be compared to other artistic, creative accomplishments of other kinds of art mediums.

As for company default, I think there will probably be some collectors who will one day enjoy and seek out THOSE dolls, especially when/if there are only 3 or 4 known to still exist. I guess my former life as an antique dealer is showing when I bring this up. I was thinking of the dolls more as antiques and how people feel about altering an antique.

An opinion is a very interesting thing and I've enjoyed reading the ones that pose the reasoning behind the viewpoints that are different from the one I felt when I first responded to this question. I like debate, because it helps me see things I don't automatically understand or can reason out to the same conclusion as another person, for myself.

Part of the psychology or values being debated has to do with how to treat something that has become RARE. From what I can tell, some people feel that it does not make any difference. Just an observation, not a judgment or emotional reaction. ANd not to say there is anything wrong with feeling passionate about your opinions.

 

I noticed some time ago, that many of the dolls I own get discontinued, some aren't that popular and others are limited. Fact is I'd shy away from modding them or let someone else do it, because if I or the other person really mess up, there's no second chance.
But that said, you don't know when or if your doll will become that rare, also you don't know if maybe a LE will be re-released someday, making your once rare doll not so rare anymore.
So if you want to mod any doll, go right ahead. ^^

 

No matter how you word it, it about as silly as asking, "What do you think about playing in traffic?"

 

absolutely not!.

If the doll is rare than I feel it should not be modded. If you have a specific look or character in mind, I would get another mold for the head that is also suited for your character. Create a new character for your rare.

 

I honestly can't disagree with you. But at least my alternative could allow for more in the way of discussion... though the discussion would likely tank in a matter of days.

Oh look, yet another who feels they have a say in what someone does with their personal property...

 

I'm very new to the bjd hobby, but have seen this question is several forms around the forum, and I guess I'm confused by all the controversy. No offense...but it's a doll and does not have a place on the endangered species list. A modified doll is in no way going to impact the ecosystem or change the world in any way.

In this hobby, just like any other hobby people get involved for their own personal reasons and not everyone who owns a doll (or many) is a "preservation collector." While currently I don't own any rare or OOAK bjd dolls, that's not to say I never will, and personally would take offense to someone telling me I committed some crime/tragedy but altering MY doll. Things I purchase are done so for my "now living" enjoyment, not for bragging rights, preservation purposes or the sharing of with future generations; and their resale is not part of my retirement plan. So if that means dremeling off an ear or carving out a bite wound into my dolls abdomen ......then so be; it's my doll and my business.

I've seen post where people are virtually asking "permission" from others to alter their own dolls......like seriously? It's your's; hack into it, modify it and change it however you see fit, you don't need a co-signer or someone elses blessings. If the "collector" who loses sleep or has nothing better to worry about than another individual purchasing a rare/OOAK doll to irreversibly mod, then they should consider waking up early to get to the front of the line and purchasing it themselves, that way they can preserve said doll in whatever manner they see fit.

On a different, but similar note, I am a reborn artist; one who rarely if ever buys these mass produced reborn kits, as I don't have an interest in my final creations being some variation of a million other babies. I've purchase quite a number of dolls from estate sales (some that are no longer in production and are rare in their finding), and taken them home to butcher and turn into little zombies and other creatures. I realize that many reborn "collectors" will never have an interest in my work, but there are hundreds of others who do...and that's okay by me. I don't really find the bjd community to be much different from that.

BJDs are a customizable ART FORM; one that starts with the sculpture and continues at the hands of the owner. Modifications; mild to extreme, can also lend themselves to the BEAUTY and WORTH of a doll, maybe not in the eyes of a "preservation collector," but in the eyes of someone else, and should be afforded the same respect and courtesies as those who are merely adorned with a beautiful faceup.....And that's my story!

 

LOL .....I don't have a Mona Lisa, but I have a Whistler's Mother print that I photoshopped white stripes on her black dress and lines on the wall behind her so now it looks like a side view mugshot.

 

Note how I said I FEEL. This is a debate thread. I was asked of my opinion and I gave it. I am not telling anyone what to do with their property or personal lives. I am stating an opinion about a topic in a debate thread.

 

And I was stating my opinion, or yet, what I "felt" the moment I read that statement of yours.

You know it's statements like those that make me hope I get my grail doll, just so I can gouge scars into his beautiful face, post pics, and see how much butthurt would fill the gallery thread over it. But I don't intend to do my own mods ever. Nooot that confident with it, and I have a little something called sense, and I have enough of it not to practice mods on the limited doll.

But if someone is willing to potentially destroy the value of a limited doll, it's limited status was obviously not important to them, and then, there is still nothing you can do to stop them.

 

It boggles my mind that some folks find it so easy to grasp the concept that a doll owner has the right to do what they want with their doll, but so difficult to take hold of the idea that other people also have the right to hold their own thoughts on the matter.

Does the doll owner have the right do what they want with their property? Yes!
Do other people have the right to their own thoughts and opinions? Yes!

Not so hard. The concepts are not mutually exclusive.

I could better understand the pitchfork-waving and white knighting if folks were actually tracking down dolly owners and holding down their hands to stop them performing the mods they desire. But no, people are responding in a thread that specifically requests their opinion on a hypothetical situation. I don't think that really calls for rudeness or accusations of positions & actions that are not happening.

 

I'm on the 'it's the owner's choice' side. I wouldn't feel bad altering a LE, or a OOAK - I bought it for myself, not to preserve it for posterity.

 

Of course it's OK. It's your doll, and if you would love it just a little bit more with these changes.. Then do it.

I don't think doll owners should live with the constant thoughts of "what it i want to sell it". If you get tired of the doll (no matter how rare) and you've modded it - fine. Someone else will love it anyway.

 

In direct response to the question of the topic: Why wouldn't it be?

Once bought it is the buyer's property. If he or she wants to change something to fit their tastes, it is their perfect right. If someone else wanted to have exactly that head in the original form, it's just like with limited dolls: If you couldn't afford it or knew about it when it was released or hesitated to long - to bad. In that case only waiting, saving and being at the right time at the right place will give you your beloved head.

 

I have to agree on that.
You bought it, you have the right to do whatever you want on it. Rare or not.
The important thing is, though, being sure you won't regret your mods afterwards.
But, all in all, it's only up to the owner to decide whether or not to mod a rare -or not- head he/she owns.

 

I think the biggest problem I've noticed when this question arises is the loss of value to the original doll. I mean, if they sell blank heads for you to do whatever you want to, then why mod a pre-done head? I've never understood that.

 

This is dealing more with limited dolls, which may be "pre-done" when purchased. Blank heads can be good for practicing, but a person may love a limited sculpt...but have a vision for it that may involve additional modifications. Saying "oh well I'll just buy another head for the mods" may likely not be an option, and just buying some cheap head for such "final" mods would make even less sense.

I would be a bit put off by someone practicing on a limited head--a feeling that seems to be shared by many who have taken part in this debate. But if someone is confident in their ability to mod the doll the way they want it, there is really nothing that can be said that wont sound imposing or even a bit selfish. And there is even less you can say if the owner of the doll isn't concerned with potential loss of value.

 

This is none of anyone's business save the owner's. If I had an ultra-rare head like that, had no intention of selling and wanted to mod it, I would mod it.

Though just to put it out there, I sincerely doubt that there is a doll head in this world that is beautiful enough for me to keep if I could make that much money from selling it.