Monday, July 8, 2013

Baby Face

There's an elegant antiques and collectibles store on one of the main shopping streets in our neighborhood of Los Boliches. In the window is a consistently creepy — to me — display. I suppose if you like or collect dolls, you might appreciate the realism of the ones for sale here. I'm so glad San Geraldo and I weren't kept behind glass.



CLICK TO DOUBLE THE PLEASURE.

I PHOTOSHOPPED MYSELF INTO THE WINDOW.  NO SALE...
AND THEN SAN GERALDO CAME ALONG.


36 comments:

  1. LOL! I normally don't like dolls because their faces are so static and vacant, but I love the last 2 pictures of you and San Geraldo! What adorable babies you both were. And grown up to be such adorable adults.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jo:
      They're fascinating, but still creepy to me. I just learned they're called "reborns" and there's apparently a growing subculture who collect them. Some owners even treat them as real babies (take them to restaurants with them, etc.) They're all hand-made by individual artists and cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars! I won't get into what I've read about who the majority of collectors are. Let's just say, they're not our types of people, although I'm sure some are very nice.

      Delete
  2. That is kinda creepy .... not the last two, I mean.
    Those are adorable, yeah, that's it, adorable! =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bob:
      Aw, thanks. And that's got to be the worst baby picture of me I've ever seen. Wish I were still so "cute." As for the dolls (called "reborns"), the more I read, the creepier they become.

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. Judeet:
      I was looking for "Baby Face" on youtube and when I found that version, I immediately thought of you and decided to use it!

      Delete
  4. OMG, this is SCARY! I'd be hurrying past the window, yet squinting sideways to take a peek. Still, I'd rather have babies in the window than animals.
    Btw: You look like your nappy (diaper) needs changing - not so with S.G.!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Raybeard:
      And it gets scarier if you read about these dolls (http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/19/motherhood-reborn-and-everlasting/). As for my nappy, that was taken from a photo where my mother was holding me vertically with one hand right in my crotch. Looks very strange when laid down flat. (I can't imagine The Dowager Duchess would have posed me for a photograph with a dirty diaper... then again...)

      Delete
  5. They are scarily real! Great photoshopping skills too! ahah!

    Thanks for you comment about my Glamnic, it was just as magical as it looks i can assure you! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phaze:
      I'm very impressed with the care and craftsmanship that goes into making those dolls, but the more I read about them, the scarier they become. (http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/19/motherhood-reborn-and-everlasting/)

      Delete
  6. I wonder who buys those doll babies? And why? They give me the creeps. Ugh! But you and Gerry are adorable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Judith:
      This is a fascinating article that tells about the dolls (and makes them seem even creepier to me): http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/19/motherhood-reborn-and-everlasting/

      San Geraldo is still adorable. As for me... But thanks!

      Delete
  7. I find antique dolls to be very creepy, and the more realistic the creepier. These dolls look very realistic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephen:
      These aren't even antique. They're a contemporary trend called "reborns."

      Delete
  8. OMG! I am totally creeped out! Spaniards are warped :-)
    Di
    xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Di:
      Nothing to do with Spaniards. They're made all over the world. Check out the article: http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/19/motherhood-reborn-and-everlasting/

      Delete
  9. Cabbage Patch Dolls they're not! Heck, neither were you or SG (thank goodness!)... they sure are realistic for being antiques (the dolls... NOT you and SG)... oh heck... I'm just digging in deeper. Okay... the clothing is exquisite!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sharon:
      I actually worked with a guy who looked just like a Cabbage Patch Doll -- a 6'4" Cabbage Patch Doll! I too think San Geraldo and I are very realistic.

      Delete
  10. They (the ones in the shop) look like these mummies of babies in the Capuchins' catacombs in Palermo. They are indeed creepy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Alain:
      Thanks so much for your visit. I've never seen the mummies in Palermo and, if that's what these dolls remind you of, I don't think I want to.

      Delete
  11. That is creepy - although they do look quiet realistic. Reminds me of my perception of Rosemary's Baby after I saw the movie......lol.
    However, you and Gerry were just adorable!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carole:
      Ugh, Rosemary's Baby. That book alone gave me nightmares for years. Yeah, we were adorable, weren't we?!

      Delete
  12. I don't mind them so much from a distance through the glass, but up close and personal, there's something extremely disturbing about them. Not you and San G. of course.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Will:
      I'm glad San Geraldo and I aren't in the same category. From a design/craftsmanship standpoint, I know you'd appreciate the dolls. After that...

      Delete
  13. That's creepy. But it also reminds me of the naked Jesus's in that shop on Jesus del Gran Poder in Sevilla.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter:
      Yes, and even worse. I still want a collection of naked Jesuses.

      Delete
  14. Bina would love these dolls!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anon:
      Do a search on "reborn dolls" and I'm sure you'll find some to buy.

      Delete
  15. Those dolls are super creepy. My middle daughter had a new born look a like that her grandma bought her and if she threw it in the pool or left it on the picnic table people actually gave me dirty looks like I was letting her hurt a real baby. Super creepy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. kisatrtle:
      That would be extremely creepy seeing one of these floating in the pool! I understand they even weight them so they have the heft of the real thing.

      Delete
  16. Do you really not recognize who anonymous is? Bina ,my sister , would really like these dolls but not me, Josephine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Giu!!!! I saw this and immediately thought of you but it never dawned on me it could actually BE you! Send me email!!!

      Delete
  17. yikes those 'dolls' -- I am going to have nightmares now-those two together? Pretty sure it was a suicide pact...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wye:
      Oh, now that you mention it, it sure does! Many of the "reborn" dolls I've seen online are not as off-putting (for me) as the ones they have in this window.

      Delete
  18. Your photos remind me of those creepy Victorian death photos.

    ReplyDelete

Please visit www.movingwithmitchell.com if you would like to comment or stay up to date. I stopped posting here and reproduced all previous posts, as well, 25 September 2018. Thanks!!!