Latest news with #BarbieCollectors
New York Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Mario Paglino, 52, and Gianni Grossi, 54, Die; Designers Made Barbies Into Art
Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi, designers who turned Barbie dolls into one-of-a-kind works of art that sold for thousands of dollars, including one that fetched more than $15,000 at a charity auction, died on July 27 in Italy. Mr. Paglino was 52; Mr. Grossi was 54. The Italian news service ANSA reported their deaths, in a car collision with another vehicle that was going the wrong way on the A4 Turin-Milan highway. The two men, who married in New York City in 2022, lived and worked together in Novara, west of Milan. They were celebrities in the global Barbie doll-collecting community, which is vast and has numerous Facebook groups, some with more than 100,000 members. Depending on their interests, fans 'buy Barbies that have been created by Mattel, or they buy limited-edition and one-of-a-kind Barbies that doll artists make,' Kim Culmone, the head of design for dolls at Mattel, said in an interview. 'There are different levels of people who do this sort of work,' she added. 'And Gianni and Mario really were just a cut above.' Mr. Paglino, a fashion designer, and Mr. Grossi, a graphic art director, were hailed by collectors for their meticulous handiwork — the ruffles and extravagant bows, the embroidery, appliqué, crystals, rhinestones, paillettes and beading on silk, satin and tulle — as well as their unswerving attention to detail and their deep knowledge of fashion and art history. Most of the Barbies from their atelier sold for $2,000 to $3,000. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Virginia woman discovers vintage Barbie in thrift store for unnerving price tag
A Virginia woman couldn't believe her luck when she stumbled across a vintage Barbie from 1962 — still in its original box — for just $10.99 at a local thrift store. Grace Caroline, 29, was browsing the Christmas aisle when she spotted the rare find: a first-wave Barbie in her iconic red swimsuit, boxed and mostly untouched after more than 60 years. 'She is still in her original box from 1962 and looks mostly untouched,' Caroline told Newsweek this week. 'She does have a case of what Barbie collectors call green ear, where the original metal earrings she once wore oxidized into the vinyl of the face.' The doll, which originally sold for just $2 in the 1960s — about $21 in today's money — can now sell for hundreds online. While the doll was missing the hand tag, the original booklet was still sealed in the box. 'I wanted to ensure that it was saved from the thrift to be in the hands of a Barbie collector where it can be cherished and appreciated after 63 years in storage.' Caroline said. Red bathing suits were the standard outfit for Barbie dolls during the early 1960s, and some of the models cost up to $378 on eBay. Caroline posted photos of the doll in a Reddit post that flooded with hundreds of comments, some being from fans who didn't believe it was an original doll. 'I have a lot of people calling it staged because thrift stores have become very adamant in making sure the good stuff goes behind the counter,' she said. 'But with the sheer amount of daily donations thrift stores get because of our hyper-consumeristic lifestyle, it doesn't surprise me that gems like this do slip past thrift employees.' Others could tell the Barbie was not a reproduction and congratulated the shopper on her find. 'For those in the know, you have scored an expensive Barbie. It looks genuine. Well done,' a commenter wrote. 'These are the reasons I still believe and I still keep thrifting. Well done and good on you,' a fan responded. 'That's really cool! My moms best friend had old Barbies that I used to play with as a kid and my favorite part was that little catalog,' another person commented. Amy McKune, a curator at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, was impressed with 63-year-old doll's condition. Red bathing suits were the standard outfits for Barbie dolls until Mattel created a black and white striped outfit Some Reddit users refused to believe the doll was an original while others congratulated Caroline on her find 'She does appear to be in her original box, wearing her original swimsuit and red sandals. Often the thin strap on the tops of those sandals has split as the plastic has aged,' McKune told Newsweek. 'I can't see her ears to know if she still has her original earrings. The pearl earrings often have left an area of green discoloration around the ears.' The expert revealed the exact model was a #6, the first kind of Barbie doll to wear the red swimsuit. 'Isn't it amazing that after only three years, Mattel had introduced six models?,' McKune continued. 'The model number on one end of the box (Model 850) was used for all of the Ponytail Barbie dolls.' A longtime Barbie collector claimed the doll was not as expensive as others but that it was still a major steal. 'This is a #6/7 ponytail, so not anywhere near as valuable as the first or second barbie,' the Barbie fan wrote. 'Still probably worth around $400 or so. She's in really nice condition and Titians are sought after, especially with no green ear.' Made by Mattel, the first Barbie doll launched in 1959, and the first mass-produced toy doll in the US with adult features. The doll became a national treasure, spawning other models that have their own adventures and jaw-dropping prices. It's also been an inspiration for the entertainment industry, especially for the 2023 box office smash Barbie. Over 50 million dolls are sold annually worldwide, but that could change now that prices of Barbies may rise due to tariffs.
