What Makes a Collector?

I think a person with a small collection is just as valid as a person with a large collection. As long as it is something that makes you happy and you have an assortment of it, then you are a collector.

 

I am a collector of projects. Poseable resin figures make GREAT projects!!! With end-results that are pleasing for the eye, yes, but the journey, the process, the engaging in the embellishment of them is even better than the end-result. To me.

 

Oh @tanjalalie that's such a good way to frame it! I might have to steal it I wouldn't call myself a doll collector, but a project collector? All my crafting supplies say yes. I also love making my dolls better and crafting them things more than just having a beautiful doll^_^ I'd rather have a somewhat wonky doll I've customised (and can improve) than a beautiful fullset

 

Yaaaasssss , THIS, , completely!!!

 

Good point.

Teddy

 

Reading everyone's comments, I'm seeing an interesting split between people who have positive connotations with the word "collector" and are saying things like "you can be a collector no matter how many dolls you have " versus people who have a more negative connotation and are saying "I'm not obsessively hoarding dolls, just for the sake of owning them, so I'm not a collector".

Not sure what to make of that per se, just something I noticed!

 

This is me…exactly! If I find something that fascinates me I love to explore it in depth. Throughout the years this has resulted in several collections (electric guitars, native flutes, Pokemon plushies, Lego elves, and of course bjds.) All of these things are carefully curated and artistically displayed throughout my small home. I treat them as art (why just hang a poster on the wall when I can put up a shelf and decorate it as a room display for bjds instead, which is interactive and way more creative and fun for me.) Much the same way that long boring hallway (so much wasted space!) got my collection of electric guitars hung along its length. I love displaying things that make me happy and have meaning to my life, so all of my collections (regardless of what they are) are out to be seen and enjoyed. This is naturally self-limiting of course…each carefully curated collection has an end point once it reaches its allotted space. But that’s a good thing, right?

 

Others have already said my thoughts... I think everyone who has 2+ dolls already has a collection, but "what makes a collector" depends on intent and goals for their collection. I suppore any collector would have some guidelines they'd follow when deciding which dolls to buy, but some people have a more expansive, "opening up" approach, while others have a refining, "narrowing down" approach. And this attitude isn't dependent on how many dolls one owns.
Maybe that's causing the split in replies that @babezoid is noticing?

I'm the latter "narrowing down" type of collector, who wants to curate and refine my doll collection until it ends up with a specific kind of identity and style. So I like to think of myself more as a curator than a collector. But at the end of the day, I still have a doll collection.

 

@babezoid
I don't think there's a positive/negative connotation split, just that people have different opinions as to what is a collection/collector. One doesn't have to be better or worse, just different you can, for example, love to look at collections and admire the collectors, but not count yourself among them because you don't meet your own criteria for what counts as one. In that case, you might even think more highly of collectors and strive to get to their level

 

I suppose you're right, I might be reading too much into things, haha. Wouldn't be the first time!

 

In my mind, it’s a combination of having multiple of whatever you’re collecting, seeking out specific items for your collection, and valuing scarcity/rarity. This is a value-neutral thing to me, but it’s a specific mindset in addition to an action.

 

I have a lot of dolls, but I don't think of myself as a collector so much as a hobbyist. My reason for this is that I rotate my crew so much. I think of a collector as someone who has an interest and likes collecting more of that thing to keep. I buy, sell and trade frequently because I get bored with the same for too long. It's an active hobby for me, and I like to get a doll, paint it, work on it, enjoy it for awhile, then let it go for something new.

 

@tanjalalie - I like to call myself a "character collector," because that's what I see them as, but "project collector" would be just as accurate for me as well!

I feel the need to point out that "collector" implies active participation at least. I inherited a plate collection from my mother. I couldn't care less about plates. Simply having the collection doesn't make me a collector of plates. It's my ongoing enjoyment of surrounding myself with characters that makes me a "doll collector," imo.

 

Well said, Sianserais…well said!

 

I think it's a matter of perceiving. Whether you want to be called a collector, a hobbyist or else, it's up to you. I see myself as a collector because I collect many things, not only dolls. But having 12 BJDs, about 30 Barbies, several Pullips, Dals, Monster High, Shadow High and a Petite Blythe probably makes me a collector. I really don't pay attention to labelling. My doll collection isn't organized by a specicfic feature or company, I just buy anything I like. It's a hobby, something done for fun, so no strict rules should be applied.

 

It's all about how you approach it!

I have a lot of mismatched trinkets but they're all primarily blue. While they aren't from the same series, I still consider them all a part of my collection. I only have one doll and I focus on getting him clothes and accessories, but I still consider myself a doll collector because of the passion I have for the hobby.

There's just owning things (which is fine!) and then there's having a passion for them, and that's what makes a collector imo.