Marina Bychkova (Enchanted Doll) is a Canadian artist of Russian descent who makes the most amazing beaded and bejeweled dolls.  It's no wonder her one of a kind handmade porcelain dolls are highly sought after by collectors all over the world.  She makes everything - the dolls are cast from her original sculptures, elaborate costumes, props and even the case.


She explained, “The reason I love making dolls is because it’s such a multidisciplinary art form. I’m not content working in just one medium such as painting or sculpture, and dolls offer me a very diverse and satisfying tactile experience. To create a doll I get to do it all: sculpture, industrial design, painting, engraving, mold-making, drawing, metalwork, fashion and jewelry design. I want it all, or nothing!"   She also does wood work and photographs her dolls herself.


She designs and carves all the wax models which are then used to cast in bronze and other precious metals the metal components of her dolls' attire. She also uses gemstones. This video shows her talking about the materials she uses for her dolls.



But her exquisitely painted (and often tattooed) dolls are not just beautiful. They showcase her research into historical costumes and adornment.  The head dress of the Orchid doll below is inspired by the vivid blue kingfisher feather hair ornaments of the Qing Dynasty.

Orchid 
The Bloody Lady doll was inspired by the real life and horrific Elizabeth Bathory, a 16th century Hungarian countess.  She also doesn't shy from difficult subjects. One of her past projects involved a tribute to cancer survivors.  The doll with a tattoed head and removable breasts was "my attempt to work through my own personal fear of breast cancer."

The Bloody Lady 
All her dolls are anatomically correct and are fully articulated which allows them to be positioned in many different poses.   Many of her dolls are available as nudes. The attention to detail is truly astounding. The time taken to make each doll ranges from 150 to 350 hours.

Red Riding Hood
Marina honed her craft from a tender age. She started making paper dolls when she was just 6 and attempted multi-jointed paper dolls even then. She began sewing her first fabric dolls at 8.  By the time she was 12, she had a small business selling her doll creations to classmates for pocket money. At 20 and in art school, she began to create polymer clay dolls and soon moved on to porcelain. Her doll making skills evolved and matured.  Her art is her life's passion.

Red Riding Hood's Basket

Princess and the Pea

The art dolls she creates are in the luxury stratosphere.  Her Daphne doll below sold in an eBay auction for $42,473.41 in 2013.  The most expensive one sold cost $76,500.

Daphne in Disguise or The Mystery of the Venetian Carnival

Cinderella
The videos below show how she put together her Cinderella doll.  The first one shows how she connects the industrial springs. Leather lines the joints. The second features her beadwork and hairstyling talent. The third, her metal work techniques.


Cinderella Comes Together - Part 1


Cinderella Comes Together Part 2


Cinderella Comes Together Part 3


Via 

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