COLLECTOR'S GLOSSARY

MANUFACTURER

The manufacturer is the company responsible for producing or marketing a doll under its name or portfolio of brands. For example, Mattel is the company behind Barbie and Monster High, while MGA Entertainment is behind Bratz and Rainbow High. Knowing the manufacturer helps us identify the company responsible for a doll and better understand its origins.

BRAND

A brand is the commercial identity under which a doll or doll range is marketed. For example, Barbie and Monster High are two different brands owned by Mattel. In doll collecting, the terms brand, manufacturer and line are sometimes used interchangeably, even though they don't always mean the same thing.

And that's exactly why doll identification can sometimes get a little confusing!

COLLECTION / SERIES

A collection or series brings together dolls released under a shared concept, design direction or theme. For example, Barbie Looks belongs to the wider Barbie Signature collector range. A collection may include several dolls released at different times, sometimes organised into waves.

Identifying a doll's collection helps collectors find related models and understand how they fit together.

COLLECTION CATEGORY

A Collection Category is a broader grouping used to organise dolls within a brand. For example, Barbie Signature brings together collectible dolls and collections designed with collectors in mind, including Barbie Looks, Barbie Inspiring Women and other special releases. Within LaFlorette Doll Society, I use this category to distinguish broader product groupings from individual collections or series.

Think of it as the bigger family a collection belongs to!

EDITION

An edition describes a particular release or version of a doll. Terms such as Special Edition, Limited Edition or Anniversary Edition may indicate how a manufacturer presents a release. However, these terms are not always used consistently across brands, and Special Edition doesn't automatically mean Limited Edition.

Whenever possible, I prefer to use the manufacturer's official designation rather than make assumptions about a doll's rarity.

WAVE

A wave is a group of dolls released together within a collection or product line. For example, the Barbie Looks collection has been released in several waves, each introducing new models. Wave numbers are especially useful when identifying dolls from collections that evolve over several years.

FACE SCULPT / HEAD MOLD

A Face Sculpt, also commonly referred to as a Head Mold, is the sculpted shape of a doll's face and head. It determines facial features such as the eyes, nose, lips, cheeks and jawline. The same sculpt can be used on many different dolls, sometimes with completely different skin tones, hairstyles and facial screenings.

For example, Barbie collectors often recognise iconic face sculpts such as Superstar, Mackie, Generation Girl, Millie and Odile.

BODY TYPE / BODY SHAPE

Body Type or Body Shape describes the proportions and physical characteristics of a doll's body. Depending on the manufacturer and collection, dolls may have different heights, builds, proportions and silhouettes. For example, Barbie Fashionistas introduced body variations such as Original, Curvy, Petite and Tall, expanding the diversity of body shapes available in the Barbie universe.

And the diversity goes even further! Across the wider Barbie range, Mattel has reported nine different body types, reflecting its ongoing efforts to represent a broader variety of body shapes and proportions.

Understanding body shapes is particularly useful when choosing clothes, comparing dolls or planning a body swap. And believe me, not every fabulous Barbie outfit fits every fabulous Barbie body!

SKIN TONE

Skin Tone refers to the colour and shade of a doll's skin. Dolls come in a wide variety of skin tones, ranging from very light to very dark, with different undertones that may appear warmer, cooler or more neutral. To give you an idea of just how far Barbie has evolved, Mattel has reported more than 35 different skin tones across its Barbie range, offering a much broader representation of the world's diversity.

Skin tone is particularly important for collectors who enjoy customisation and rebodying, as matching a doll's head with a different body can sometimes be challenging. Descriptions and classifications may vary between manufacturers and collector communities.

HAIR COLOR / HAIR STYLE

Hair Color refers to the colour of a doll's hair, while Hair Style describes how that hair is cut, arranged or styled. Dolls may feature rooted hair, moulded hair, wigs or other types of hair construction, depending on their design. Hair colour and hairstyle can be particularly useful when identifying different versions of a doll, especially when several releases share the same face sculpt.

And yes, sometimes identifying a mysterious doll starts with nothing more than a very distinctive haircut!

EYE COLOR

Eye Color refers to the colour of a doll's eyes, whether painted, printed or created using inset eyes. It can be an important identifying characteristic, particularly when comparing dolls that share the same face sculpt. Eye colour, makeup and other facial details may vary considerably between releases, giving each doll a different expression and personality.

For collectors, even the smallest differences can help identify a specific model.

NRFB — NEVER REMOVED FROM BOX

NRFB stands for Never Removed From Box. It describes a doll that has never been taken out of its original packaging and is still attached to its original packaging inserts. For some collectors, especially those who enjoy preserving dolls in their original presentation, NRFB condition is particularly desirable.

However, NRFB doesn't necessarily mean that the box is perfect or that the doll has remained completely untouched by time. Even a doll that has never been removed from its box may show signs of ageing, such as discolouration, deteriorating elastic bands or damaged packaging.

NIB — NEW IN BOX

NIB stands for New In Box. It describes a doll sold as new in its original packaging. The term is often used interchangeably with NRFB (Never Removed From Box), although NIB focuses on the doll's new condition rather than explicitly confirming that it has never been removed from its packaging.

Since collectors and sellers don't always use these terms consistently, it's worth checking whether the original packaging has been opened and whether the doll is still attached to its original inserts.

SECOND-HAND / PRE-OWNED / PRE-LOVED

A Second-Hand Doll is a doll that has previously belonged to someone else and is being sold or passed on to a new owner. You may also come across the terms Pre-Owned or Pre-Loved, which are commonly used in the doll collecting community. But here's something important to remember: second-hand doesn't necessarily mean used, damaged or played with!

A second-hand doll can be in excellent condition, complete with all her original accessories, or even NRFB (Never Removed From Box). The term simply refers to the doll's ownership history, not necessarily her physical condition. For many collectors, the second-hand market is a wonderful way to discover discontinued models, vintage treasures and dolls that are no longer available in stores.

A doll's next chapter always begins with a new collector!

MIB — MINT IN BOX

MIB stands for Mint In Box. It usually describes a doll in excellent, like-new condition, accompanied by its original box. The doll may have been removed from the packaging at some point, provided it remains in mint condition.

It's important to remember that mint refers primarily to the item's condition, while in box indicates the presence of its original packaging. The box itself may have a different condition rating.

MINT CONDITION

Mint Condition describes a doll that appears to be in virtually perfect, like-new condition. A mint doll should show no obvious signs of play, damage or significant wear. However, the term is somewhat subjective, and collectors may have different expectations of what qualifies as mint.

A vintage doll can sometimes be described as mint if it has been exceptionally well preserved.

DEBOXED / OUT OF BOX (OOB)

A Deboxed doll is a doll that has been removed from its original packaging. You may also come across the abbreviation OOB, meaning Out Of Box. Being deboxed doesn't necessarily mean that a doll has been played with or is in poor condition.

Many collectors remove their dolls from their boxes immediately after purchase and keep them in excellent condition. And of course, for doll photographers, deboxing often means the beginning of a whole new adventure!

LOOSE DOLL

A Loose Doll is a doll sold without its original packaging. Depending on the seller, it may be accompanied by its original clothes and accessories, or sold separately from them. The term loose describes how the doll is presented or sold, rather than its actual condition.

A loose doll can be in excellent condition, just as a boxed doll can show signs of deterioration.

COMPLETE / INCOMPLETE

A Complete doll includes all the original items that were supplied with that particular release. These may include clothing, shoes, accessories, jewellery, stands or other items, depending on the model. An Incomplete doll is missing one or more of those original components.

Completeness can be especially important when collecting vintage or limited-release dolls, where original accessories may be difficult to replace.

PLAYED WITH / PLAYWEAR

A Played With doll is a doll that has been used for play rather than kept solely for display or preservation. The term playwear refers to visible signs of that use. These may include tangled hair, missing accessories, scratches, worn makeup, loose joints or marks on the body.

The extent of playwear can vary greatly, from a few minor signs of handling to more noticeable damage. And sometimes, those little imperfections are simply part of a doll's history.

TLC — TENDER LOVING CARE

TLC stands for Tender Loving Care. In second-hand doll listings, it usually means that a doll needs some attention, cleaning, repair or restoration. A doll described as needing TLC might have tangled hair, stains, missing parts, damaged clothing or other issues requiring work.

For collectors who enjoy rescuing and restoring dolls, these can be interesting finds. But remember: a little TLC can mean very different things depending on the seller!

RESTORED / REPAIRED

A Restored doll has undergone work intended to improve its condition or bring it closer to its original appearance. Restoration may involve cleaning, repairing damaged parts, replacing missing components, treating hair or correcting deteriorated details. A Repaired doll has had a specific defect or damaged component fixed.

Restoration and repair are not necessarily the same as customisation, where the objective is to intentionally change a doll's original appearance. For collectors, it's important to know what work has been carried out, especially when authenticity and original condition matter.

YELLOWING / DISCOLOURATION

Yellowing and Discolouration refer to changes in a doll's original colour over time. These changes may affect the body, head, hair, clothing or packaging. They can result from ageing, exposure to light, heat, environmental conditions or chemical changes in materials.

Discolouration is particularly relevant when evaluating older dolls, even those that have remained inside their boxes for decades.

GREEN EAR

Green Ear is a form of greenish staining most famously associated with certain vintage Barbie dolls. It is often caused by a chemical reaction involving metal earrings or jewellery and the doll's vinyl, which can produce green discolouration around the ears. The staining can sometimes spread beyond the original contact area and may be difficult to remove.

For vintage Barbie collectors, Green Ear is an important condition issue to check before purchasing a doll.

CUSTOMIZATION / CUSTOM DOLL

Customization is the process of modifying a doll to change its original appearance, features or characteristics. It can involve anything from changing a doll's hairstyle or replacing its body to repainting its face, altering its clothing or creating entirely new details. A Custom Doll is a doll that has been modified from its original manufactured design.

Some modifications are subtle, while others can completely transform the doll's appearance. Customization is different from restoration: restoration generally aims to preserve or recover a doll's original appearance, while customization intentionally changes it.

OOAK — ONE OF A KIND

OOAK stands for One Of A Kind. In the doll world, it generally refers to a doll that has been customised or transformed into a unique creation. Customisation can range from a simple body swap or head swap to more elaborate transformations involving repainting, rerooting, sculpting or handmade clothing.

Some collectors use the term OOAK for extensively customised artistic creations, while others use it more broadly for dolls they have personalised. The meaning can vary depending on the collector and the extent of the transformation.

HYBRID DOLL

A Hybrid Doll combines parts from different dolls, models or manufacturers. For example, a Barbie Fashionistas head placed on a Made to Move body creates a hybrid doll. Unlike OOAK, which focuses on the personalised or unique character of a doll, Hybrid describes how its components have been combined.

A hybrid doll can also be considered OOAK, depending on how the collector defines their creation.

REBODYING / BODY SWAP

Rebodying is the process of replacing a doll's original body with another compatible body. Collectors often do this to improve articulation, change body proportions or create a particular appearance. For example, a Barbie with limited articulation might be given a Made to Move body to allow more expressive poses.

Rebodying usually involves carefully removing the doll's head and attaching it to another body. Compatibility is important, especially when it comes to neck connectors, proportions and skin tone.

HEAD SWAP

A Head Swap involves transferring a doll's head from one body to another. The term is closely related to rebodying, but the emphasis is slightly different. When collectors talk about rebodying, they're usually focusing on replacing the body. When they talk about a head swap, they're focusing on transferring or exchanging the heads.

In practice, the two expressions often describe the same operation. A head swap can completely change a doll's appearance, proportions and posing possibilities.

REROOTING

Rerooting is the process of replacing or adding hair to a doll's head. It usually involves removing the original rooted hair and inserting new strands through the existing or newly created holes in the doll's scalp. Collectors and doll artists may reroot a doll to change its hair colour, texture, length or overall hairstyle.

Different synthetic fibres and natural materials may be used, depending on the desired result. Rerooting can be part of a restoration project or a creative customisation.

REPAINT / FACE-UP

A Repaint is the process of changing a doll's original facial features or makeup using paint or other suitable artistic materials. A Face-up refers to the artistic application of facial details, such as eyebrows, eyes, lips, blush and shading. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, although a face-up doesn't necessarily involve painting over an existing factory face.

A repaint can be subtle, such as changing the lip colour, or extensive enough to give a doll a completely different expression. Some doll artists specialise in highly detailed, realistic face-ups that transform the character of the original sculpt.

FACTORY PAINT / FACTORY SCREENING

Factory Paint, also called Factory Screening, refers to the facial details applied during a doll's manufacturing process. These details may include the eyes, eyebrows, lips, eyelashes and makeup. Depending on the manufacturer and production method, facial details may be painted, stamped or printed.

Collectors often use the term screening when comparing dolls that share the same face sculpt but have different facial designs. A factory screening is different from a custom repaint, which is applied after manufacturing.

HAIR RESTYLING

Hair Restyling involves changing a doll's hairstyle without necessarily replacing the original hair. This may include washing, curling, straightening where the hair fibre permits, braiding, cutting or creating a new hairstyle. Unlike rerooting, hair restyling generally works with the hair already present on the doll.

Some changes are temporary or reversible, while others, such as cutting, are permanent. And sometimes, a simple change of hairstyle is enough to give a doll a completely different personality!

MINIATURE

A Miniature is a small-scale representation of a real object, person, place or environment. Miniatures can be realistic reproductions of everyday objects or imaginative creations designed for fictional worlds. In doll collecting, miniatures are often used to create living spaces, decorate scenes, build collections or bring photography to life.

From furniture and food to books, plants and household objects, almost anything can exist in miniature form. And that's precisely what makes collecting them so addictive!

SCALE / 1:6 SCALE

Scale describes the relationship between the size of a miniature and the size of its real-life equivalent. For example, 1:6 scale means that an object is approximately six times smaller than the real thing. A table measuring 90 cm in real life would therefore measure 15 cm in 1:6 scale.

Barbie, Ken and many other fashion dolls are commonly associated with 1:6-scale environments, although their individual body proportions aren't always perfectly proportional. Other miniature scales include 1:12, which is particularly popular in traditional dollhouses, and 1:18, often used for miniature vehicles and figures.

DIORAMA

A Diorama is a three-dimensional scene designed to recreate an environment, situation or moment in time. It may represent a realistic setting, such as a living room, street or garden, or an entirely imaginary world. Dioramas can include furniture, structures, miniature objects, backgrounds and carefully arranged details to create the illusion of a complete scene.

In doll photography, dioramas are particularly useful for creating believable environments and telling visual stories. A diorama can be permanent, temporary, enclosed or open.

ROOMBOX / ROOM BOX

A Roombox is a miniature room created inside a box-like structure, usually with a floor, walls and an open front. Unlike a complete dollhouse, a roombox generally represents a single room or a specific interior setting. It can be furnished and decorated just like a real room, making it particularly popular among miniature collectors and doll photographers.

Roomboxes can also be designed to fit on shelves or to serve as portable photography sets.

DOLLHOUSE

A Dollhouse is a miniature representation of a house or building, usually designed to accommodate dolls, furniture and decorative accessories. Dollhouses may include several rooms, floors and architectural features. They can be created for play, display, photography or miniature collecting.

While traditional dollhouses are often associated with 1:12 scale, dollhouses and miniature buildings exist in many different scales, including 1:6. Some collectors build complete miniature homes, while others prefer individual rooms or interchangeable sets.

PLAYSET

A Playset is a group of objects, accessories or structures designed and sold together for a particular type of play or scene. In the Barbie universe, playsets might represent a kitchen, bedroom, café, beauty salon, vehicle-related setting or other environment. A playset may include furniture, small accessories and sometimes a doll.

Unlike a handmade diorama, a playset is generally a commercially produced product, although collectors often customise or combine different playsets to create their own environments.

PROPS

Props are objects used to decorate, support or bring a scene to life. In doll photography, props can include books, coffee cups, handbags, plants, lamps, picture frames, newspapers or almost any object that helps tell a story. The term comes from theatre, film and photography, where props are used by performers or placed within a scene.

In miniature photography, props can make the difference between a simple doll portrait and a believable moment from everyday life. Sometimes, the smallest detail tells the biggest story.

MINIATURE FURNITURE

Miniature Furniture refers to small-scale reproductions of furniture designed for dolls, dollhouses, dioramas or display. This may include sofas, chairs, tables, beds, shelves, wardrobes and other household furnishings. Miniature furniture can be manufactured commercially, handcrafted by artisans or created by collectors themselves.

When choosing furniture for dolls, both scale and proportions matter. A piece may technically be 1:6 scale but still look too small or too large beside a particular doll.

MINIATURE FOOD

Miniature Food refers to small-scale reproductions of food and beverages. These can range from realistic miniature meals and pastries to stylised or playful interpretations. Miniature food may be made from polymer clay, resin, plastic or other materials.

Some pieces are designed for doll photography or dollhouse display, while others are collected independently as miniature objects. Brands and product ranges such as Mini Brands and MGA's Miniverse have helped popularise miniature food collecting, although they offer different concepts and experiences. And let's be honest: there's something ridiculously satisfying about a tiny, perfectly detailed croissant!

DIY — DO IT YOURSELF

DIY stands for Do It Yourself. In the miniature world, it refers to creating, building, decorating or modifying miniature objects and environments yourself. DIY projects can range from making a simple miniature book to constructing an entire room or building.

Collectors may use cardboard, wood, fabric, clay, recycled packaging and many other materials. For many miniature enthusiasts, creating the objects is just as enjoyable as collecting them.

KITBASHING

Kitbashing is the practice of combining or modifying parts from existing kits, toys or objects to create something new. Originally associated with model-making, the technique is also used in miniature scenes and doll customisation. For example, a collector might combine furniture components from different playsets or modify existing miniature objects to create a completely new piece.

Unlike building everything from scratch, kitbashing starts with existing components and transforms them into something different. It's a wonderful way to give old objects a second life!