Super Dollfie and Frances Hodgson Burnett

Oh yes, I've noticed it ever since I started out in the hobby four/five years ago. ^_^ I totally felt for Sara when she was describing all the details she wanted for Emily, and I couldn't help but feel like she would totally dig how customizable BJDs are. It's not just about Super Dollfies, of course. If you're familiar with the (really good IMO) Japanese animated adaptation of the tale, it's even more poignant:

 

Dolls have been a part of human history since uh.. well, early history. There is a museum with a very early form of a ball-jointed doll that was buried with a Roman girl. The history of dolls is truly fascinating!

So yeah, The Little Princess has great description of the bond a person can form with a doll. I bet the author had a beloved doll, too.

 

I grew up with Princess Sara playing on TV (the anime). This brought back so much memories!

 

Beloved dolls are how I'd describe all my childhood toys. They were best friends and lived through all the elaborate daydreams kid!-tiefling could dream up. And now, in self-isolation, it's struck me how much I need human connection and dolls are a substitute for that. They're (often) shaped like people, they have expressions and exude a presence and personality that's really special, at least for a lot of collectors. They are definitely not just lifeless toys for me.

 

That scene in A Little Princess was one of the first to stike a cord with me as a child. I always seemed to choose a doll over another without knowing why, just knowing that it was the perfect one. As well as the Attic scene where she imagined that the room was very different than it actually was. Definitely one of my childhood favourites.

Thanks I didn't know there was an anime version. Will have to give it a watch soon.

This was so me too. My doll Elizabeth went everywhere with me and I played school, tea party, theatre/dance recital etc with her all the time. My career is in early years and I support and promote play with children and being imaginative.

 

One of the things that has given me a lot of comfort in self-isolation is how more familiar I'm getting with my collection. I'm more comfortable dealing with my bigger dolls, I can feel more of a presence in whatever doll I'm interacting with. It's definitely reminded me of the way playing with dolls felt as a kid. They aren't just vehicles for my cool ideas (though they sure are) they're also a little animistic in their own right. I think that's a large part of the appeal as an adult, dolls are much more than just toys and inert objects, they are vehicles for cool ideas and beautiful art and (sometimes) a friendly face.