Doll
Mattel Inc
Category
Dolls
Date
1992
Materials
PVC doll dressed in textile material contained in a cardboard box with cellophane window
Measurements
330 x 130 x 60 mm
Place of origin
Malaysia
Collection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 672338
Summary
A ‘Ken and Barbie’ doll ‘My First Ballet Partner Ken’ by Mattel in its original cardboard box packaging. The box is pink with a cellophane window through which the doll can be seen. 'Ken' is written on the box front in large white letters. The rear of the box has an image of Ken and Barbie dancing. There are Mattel logos on the front and sides of the box plus the dolls catalogue number (1503). On one side there is a square box with the number 5 in yellow, Barbie in white and a red rose on a mauve background. Inside the box the PVC ‘Ken’ doll is dressed in his ballet uniform of white trousers, a white and mauve jacket, white shoes and white shirt with a blue band at the waist and collar. There is a paper logo inside the box that says 'my first ballet partner' in various languages. The 'Ken' doll was introduced by Mattel in 1961 as the fictional male counterpart of the 'Barbie' doll first introduced two years earlier.
Provenance
Purchased by the National Trust Museum of Childhood via ebay on 8th September 2017 as part of the Collecting Cultures 'Exploring Childhoods' project
Marks and inscriptions
All sides of box: Mattel logo printed on all sides of box All sides of box: Catalogue number '1503' printed on all sides of box
Makers and roles
Mattel Inc , manufacturer