In the world of dolls and fashion

Almost every girl likes to play with dolls and have a lot of them, if possible.

For Prof. Nelly Kapralova they were not something all that important in childhood - she had a lot of dolls, but was not sufficiently protective of them and ruined them quickly. Much later, walking down the street in Paris's iconic "Mouffetard", her gaze focuses on exquisite porcelain doll out the window of a small shop and can not get away from it. Beauty with gorgeous ball gown became the first doll from the collection of Nelly Kapralova, which is currently now has 2415 dolls!





Buying the next dolls also becomes somewhat hastily and spontaneously. After Paris, Prof. Kapralova went to Belgium, where it just at the time one of the largest domestic markets lumber. There, a flea market, it is still 10 beautiful porcelain dolls and was able to take them for only ... $ 10. This already puts the conscious beginning of her passion for collector dolls. In 15 years, their number is gradually increasing - wherever you go in the world, already conscious collector starts looking dolls - at flea markets, markets, bargains, shops and curios.

She said she always chooses them according to the expression of their faces - if you like it broadcast buys. Although now have great value because it hardly ever produce such (most of the old European factories for dolls were closed ) dolls she actually bought cheaply from flea markets and antique stores. Nelly says that the markets are discarded many valuable things from people who have no concept of their value. Subsequently, the dolls have become so much that it starts to rank them in series - according to age, which reflect the material from which they are made, and various other features.

Thanks to this careful and thorough study group and the kind hospitality of the art-house "dolls" today we can enjoy the first part of the dolls Nelly Kapralova.

"Viktorianstvo and Belle Epoque"

In a small house located in the capital "Tsar Samuil" 34 collected some of the dolls Associate Kapralova - from Viktorianstvoto and Belle Epoque. Besides being elegant, beautiful and expertly crafted, the puppets are wonderful reflection of life at the time, manner of dress and behavior. They are a reflection of a glamorous era, an opulent and extravagant life, wealth, luxury and ease.

This cycle includes the series "Queen", "Marquises", "Parisian", "noble ladies", "Children of aristocrats" and "Heroines of the world novels." Amazing grace and fashion shikoznost mark this time. The ladies are dressed both elegant and sumptuous, feminine and charming are even poorer representatives of the fair sex.

Typical of the era are dresses with crinolines, corsets laced with thallium protruding busts in lavish necklines, beautiful hats mandatory accessories like jewelry encrusted with stones, bags and umbrellas. Later came into vogue and free falling skirts, wearing them on shorter tunics, gloves, Hat, jewelry made ​​of lace, beads and feathers.

Attention to fashion and beauty is a wonderful consequence of the target of lasting peace and economic and cultural flourishing 19th century. It was during the rule of Queen Victoria (from 1837 to 1901), where the Industrial Revolution created a new educated middle class.

Romantic Belle Époque (1890-1914) did in a golden age of art, fashion and entertainment. Fashion dictated precisely by London and Paris in the 19th century and established in January reflecting dolls are literally sealed the zeitgeist. By 1830 the dresses are long, trailing on the ground, loose, draped in large folds in bright colors, and the upper clothes are in brighter colors. Addition, a variety of scarves. Wear your hair in a bun to which they are attached ribbons and feathers. Shortly thereafter come into fashion narrow waist and skirts, hats with large peripherals, decorated with feathers, flowers and indoor face.

After 1840 are back again voluminous shapes and skirt is placed not just one petticoat, but add additional layers. All this leads to the creation of a crinoline. It is a wooden structure that hopes under her dress and then "inflated" like a barrel. Because it is heavy and awkward to mid-century invented a light metal mesh structure. Petticoat disappeared from use, and the skirt is worn directly on the crinoline.

At the end of the 19th century, the skirt is again free-falling and clothing became more practical. Ribbons, kits, wheels and picturesque chapels make the ladies very elegant and feminine. All that glamor, beauty and romance this time is recreated by porcelain dolls produced in German, British and French factories.

The dolls in this exhibition "Review - Brilliance of viktorianstvoto and Belle Époque" familiar visitor to this beautiful and magnificent era and immersed in its splendor and chic. They can be seen until 26 March and in April dotsentkata will present her other dolls, divided into the following interesting cycle "Sedyanka - Folk costumes from around the world" and "Kids, elves and fairies - romantic childhood in the 20th century."

Curious

The dolls are not just toys. The dolls are interesting creatures. I'm sure most of you will be surprised how different developments and thoughts have on their appearance, history, significance and meaning. Nelly herself Kapralova to this day can not understand why exactly dolls have turned it into a passionate collector. Supposedly because the doll is a magical creature. It is among the oldest image of man, his alter-ego and helps us to know ourselves and the world around us.
According to Dr. Alexander Iliev doll animated short subject. It is a universal model of man and his world, our simple mirror, one of our 'I'. The doll is an object of interest of many artists - hardly a child who does not know "Baby doll Barbie, I love you," Rossi Kirilova and "doll you" Atlas is one of the most emblematic Bulgarian songs. Hardly anyone can remember and fragile Alice and her dolls into the fantasy novel joint Emilia Dvoryanova "Passion and Death of Alice."