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Post by Tovah_Leah on Oct 3, 2014 13:36:03 GMT -8
I have personally noticed that the dolls we discuss on this forum usually are very expensive. When I first found EDs for example, they were around 1000 dollars, but now go for much, much more. The new ebay auction is expected to go for 100,000 dollars, I hear. The Vivid Dolls that just went on sale were all around 2000 dollars.
As far as price is concerned, what do you guys think? I'm not sure exactly what my question is, but I think it is an interesting point of discussion nonetheless.
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Post by allurose on Oct 3, 2014 13:50:25 GMT -8
When I bought my first Paperwhite Doll, Teri explained the process a little. Each part must be poured, removed from the mold, refined, sanded, painted, fired, +3 or more times painting and firing. And some parts must be discarded because of warping or splotches in the color, which can't really be avoided. Then the doll must be assembled, wig made, usually stand and box made as well. And that only counts the process after the master molds have been made!!! And it is for a nude doll, no fancy metal shoes or embroidered gown.
It is literally weeks of work, weeks of highly skilled labor. At the time she was charging $1000 for a doll. When I bought Alina one year later Teri had more than doubled the price. But I was happy for her since I think at $1000 per doll most artists don't even make a decent hourly wage.
I'm actually suprised the Vivid dolls were only $2k. I consider that a good deal!
These dolls are definitely luxury items.
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Hasel
Senior Member
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Post by Hasel on Oct 3, 2014 14:46:42 GMT -8
^ What Allurose says, at the beginning it mainly is about the amounts of work you put in and that you at least try to get 'even' as it asks for huge amounts of investment, not only time but also material, space, oven.
I think then when you are 'settled' a bit as an artist the price starts to reflect that you have your personal style and thus people pay for the design as well as opposed only for the product (think Apple)
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Post by ivdolls on Oct 3, 2014 18:06:53 GMT -8
I have personally noticed that the dolls we discuss on this forum usually are very expensive. When I first found EDs for example, they were around 1000 dollars, but now go for much, much more. The new ebay auction is expected to go for 100,000 dollars, I hear. The Vivid Dolls that just went on sale were all around 2000 dollars. As far as price is concerned, what do you guys think? I'm not sure exactly what my question is, but I think it is an interesting point of discussion nonetheless. The first doll that Yana sold was 3500.00 ( or at least that what she told me ), then her next one was around 4000.00, and now 5000.00, because she had a big interest and many people who were willing to buy her first few dolls. So i think it all depends on the demand.
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Post by nightengale on Oct 4, 2014 11:08:41 GMT -8
For example, the demand for Marina Bychkova's dolls, is so great , so the prices will keep going up and up. I'm almost scared to watch her upcoming Auction for Cinderella because I think it will go for close to $100,000. But someone out there will win her and that will be one lucky person! I wish!!!!
I can't really comment on what to think about prices of porcelain dolls because if I had the big bucks, I would pay any amount for a doll that I really want, especially a Cinderella by Marina Bychkova.
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Post by bibarina on Oct 4, 2014 13:10:59 GMT -8
Yes, it can be frustrating when you fall in love with a doll which is completely out of your price range- sigh Cinderella... lol! But I agree that with the hours and hours of work and investment that artists put in, it is not really surprising that they become so expensive when they prove popular. Each doll is so labour intensive. I think it would surprise people if the cost were to be broken down into an hourly rate... It is the same when designing and making clothes and wigs- very time consuming!
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Post by caracal on Oct 5, 2014 5:44:48 GMT -8
To me this ED-thing reminds me of the tulipomania... But, if people are happy to pay that kind of sums... ;D. Even if I was rich, I would not pay even 10.000 dollars for any doll (well, if it was made of gold or platina..) Yes, making dolls takes lots and lots of time (finding it out now myself), but there has to be some kind of sence what the price is. I don't have the habit of paying overly much for anything anyway. I think minimum price for a porcelain doll is around 1000dollars for the artist even get minimum hourly rate for the work, but if the price is going in 10.000dollars, there is air in the price. And as Bibarina mentioned, it takes lot of time designing clothes, making the patters, getting materials... -hourly rate is pathetic (and I have had people contacting me and asking me sell dresses in half price ). I wonder how often people ask dollmakers that..
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Post by nessa on Oct 5, 2014 11:37:57 GMT -8
$100K? Wow...I thought her Reubenesque girl went for a ridiculous amount. I guess let the market decide the price, since these are luxury items. They ARE art, after all...
I feel comfortable paying $1000-2500 or so because of exactly that: Very labor-intensive artwork by people who surely spent many years perfecting their art. Plus, it's they type of artwork I am not very good at and in a style I would not think to do on my own.
I got really lucky to find my Maryna Skubenko for $750 on eBay, but I've made what I consider big mistakes in WAY overpaying for other dolls. Trusting your gut feeling seems to be a good rule of thumb. My heart said yes but everything else in my body screamed "NO" as I hit "commit to buy" on that outrageous price for that one doll.
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bobo
Member
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Post by bobo on Oct 5, 2014 21:47:43 GMT -8
Now that ED price is far over priced and how many of us can afford it, may be only one or two people can afford it. For $100K that price you can buy a nice house anywhere in Canada. It become a very very luxury item or personal status to own an ED. I personally think that a porcelain doll priced from 1000$ to 5000$ is quite reasonable that some of our doll lovers can afford.
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Post by nightengale on Oct 6, 2014 6:05:39 GMT -8
You can't buy a house in Canada for only $100,000. The average price for a house in Alberta, Canada is $400,000. It is even higher in other parts of Canada. Just sayin'.
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Post by allurose on Oct 6, 2014 6:32:21 GMT -8
Art often commands high prices, much higher than an ED, but we aren't used to seeing that price on a doll.
$100,000 is not a common price for an ED. That is just someone's guess about what the rarest and probably most loved ED will go for at auction. And she has a handmade costume of precious materials.
Personally I don't think it will go that high. The last auction didn't go as high as people guessed it would. I'm sure it will still be expensive ($60,000-$80,000 is my guess), but that is the nature of art.
A more common price for an Enchanted Doll is about $12,000. And that price is (or at least originally was) determined by the secondhand market, not Marina. She no longer has a stated price for custom nudes, so we don't even know what a comparable price might be.
I wish I could have an Enchanted Doll, but, since I can't afford it, I am glad there are many other artists selling dolls of equal beauty and quality.
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Post by nightengale on Oct 7, 2014 7:13:50 GMT -8
I think that the last doll Marina auctioned off was Daphne. I think that if the owner was to sell her now, she would exceed $60,000 USD. She was one gorgeous doll.
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bobo
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Post by bobo on Oct 7, 2014 18:43:33 GMT -8
nightengale, I apologise for making a wrong statement about the housing price in Canada. I don't live anywhere near Canada and don't know why my girl friend fed me with this wrong information while we chatted about the price of ed dolls the other day. Thanks for correcting!
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Post by allurose on Oct 7, 2014 20:02:03 GMT -8
nightengale, I apologise for making a wrong statement about the housing price in Canada. I don't live anywhere near Canada and don't know why my girl friend fed me with this wrong information while we chatted about the price of ed dolls the other day. Thanks for correcting! It would certainly be enough for a down payment! Maybe that's what they meant
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Post by nightengale on Oct 7, 2014 20:11:33 GMT -8
Not a problem bobo. No need to apologise.
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