The end of an era: Tonner Doll company shuts down

I was expecting to begin the new year with happier news, but unfortunately that is not the case. Robert Tonner announced in an email that Tonner Doll shut down with the end of 2018. Of course it was to be expected, after the restructuring of his business and his focus on Phyn & Aero, which left Tonner Doll only with licensed product, which was obviously not as commercial as it should. Licensing has the fees sucking out most of the profits, and if a company deals only with such a sector, it needs to have mass production and a wide array of product to be sust, something Tonner Doll had not. I’ll always cherish the Tonner dolls I own, and hopefully will acquire some more in the future. From now own, doll collectors will follow his endeavours with his other company, Phyn & Aero. Below is his letter. 

 

 My Dear Friends,


I was lucky enough to start Tonner Doll at a point when it seemed that everyone was collecting, making, buying or selling dolls.  At the same time, the Far East was willing and eager to produce whatever we wanted at a price that couldn’t be beat.    High demand and inexpensive, quality production led to the golden age of collectible dolls and great success for Tonner Doll.

It’s often said that the only thing you can count on is change; I whole heartedly agree with that statement.  I could go on and on about the changes in the collectible doll industry, but in short, the business model that I used to build Tonner Doll is no longer viable or sustainable.  Therefore, Tonner Doll Company (including the Tonner Doll web site, doll hospital, phones and emails) was closed as of December 31, 2018.

However……

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.”
― Jenna Evans Welch, Love & Gelato

I’m very excited that Phyn & Areo will continue with a brand-new business model, one that addresses some of the changes mentioned above and we will be exploring new ways of doing business.  Through Phyn and Aero, I’ll be working directly with our favorite retailers to create unique and exclusive dolls (look for the first Ellowyne out this Spring).  I will continue to design for and attend events throughout the year (Dollology, Shaker Doll Club, Doll Circle and UFDC to name a few).  At Phyn and Aero I will also continue to develop new product; we’ll be doing small batch, design driven products.  Rayne, a new character with unique (and I mean unique) accessories will debut around Toy Fair.  In addition, I am working on design projects with other companies (I just did a huge amount of work for FAO; that was both a challenge and a delight).  I think it’s going to be a very busy, very exciting 2019!

Over these past 28 years I have had to honor to meet, work with and befriend some of the most wonderful people there are—doll collectors, doll lovers and doll retailers.  I want you to know how deeply I’ve appreciated our journey together—and here’s to a bright, exciting, shiny, new future!
Warmest,

Robert

P.S.  Starting today, please visit our website at  www.phynandaero.com or call us at 845-802-5552.  You can also reach us through info@phynandaero.com

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All photos courtesy of Tonner Doll.  

Tonner 2015 convention: Guilty Pleasures

The last weekend of May was when Tonner had their annual convention. This time it was held in Dallas, Texas, and was named "Guilty Pleasures". They presented most of their lines there, but we will of course concentrate on the fashion dolls. As was to be expected, Marley was prominently featured, so it seems the company is pushing towards having this line as the main fashion doll line for the company, which is fine by me, as long as they can make more relevant and richly accessorized outfits for these dolls. So while early on the first day (29th of May) the first dolls appearing were Ellowyne and Evangeline, dinner was the first two ladies made their appearance, matching the theme of the night: Rockabilly. Please note that prices are those at convention, the Tonner Direct prices are about $10 higher.

Dixie
Re-Imagination
Centerpiece
Estimated availability: 8th of June 2015
Limited Edition of 200, $165.00.
Available to order from Tonner Direct



Dixie is a dressed doll whose face includes hand-painted details such as green eyes. She is crafted of fine quality vinyl and hard plastic. Her Kit head sculpt and Chic body were fashioned with a bisque skin tone. Her chestnut saran hair is swept-up with a red faux flower hair decoration. Her red and white checked halter dress is adorned with black flower embroidery and a patent leather belt with silver ribbon trim. Underneath, a black tulle petticoat and nude pantyhose with attached white panties are the foundation of this garb. Black lace gauntlets, black beaded earrings, and black faux leather shoes with a racy red and white polka dot ribbon flower decoration round-out this outfit. Dixie arrives with a stand. Cute doll but nothing special for me.


Maxine
Re-Imagination
Souvenir doll
Estimated availability: 8th of June 2015
Limited Edition of 200, $165.00.
Available to order from Tonner Direct


Maxine is a dressed doll whose face includes hand-painted details such as her blue eyes. Bisque skin tone is the colour of her fine quality vinyl and hard plastic CW-1 head sculpt and Chic body. Her raven rooted saran hair is styled in a kitschy retro do with a modern twist. Her red beaded earrings match her polka dot pleated chiffon bodice while her black ribbon choker and gauntlets do the same for her black dress. Black lace thigh-highs atop nude pantyhose complete this attire. Her black faux suede shoes come with a bow decoration. Maxine arrives with a stand. She looks great, probably the best looking doll of the convention.


Saturday again started with other lines (Patsy etc) while the ladies below were featured at dinner - the theme was Manhattan Sleek. The dolls do not look like New Yorkers to me but I guess everyone has a different image of what a New Yorker is in their mind. 

Marley Grand Entrance
Centerpiece
Estimated availability: 8th of June 2015
Limited Edition of 150, $199.00.
Available to order from Tonner Direct


Marley’s Grand Entrance is a dressed doll with a face that includes hand-painted details such as light blue painted eyes with applied black eyelashes atop her bisque skin tone. She is crafted of fine quality vinyl and hard plastic with a Marley Wentworth™ head sculpt and a 16" Chic body. She has mink rooted saran hair. Her wine and gold lace dress with satin trim and faux flower decoration shares the same design roots as her wine and gold lace hat also with faux flower decoration and veil. Her matching beaded earrings, gloves and satin shoes tie the ensemble together. Nude pantyhose and panties finish off the ensemble. Marley’s Grand Entrance arrives with a stand. I do not like her lip colour - not with this riot of fuchsia in the dress. The hat is a disaster.


Marley Mad for Accessories Gift Set
Souvenir doll
Estimated availability: 8th of June 2015
Limited Edition of 250, $275.00.
Available to order from Tonner Direct


Marley’s Mad for Accessories Gift Set includes the glamorous Marley Wentworth™ head sculpt with the 16" Chic body with graceful hands. The gift set also includes two other sets of hands: Déjà vu hands and holding hands. She is crafted of fine quality vinyl and hard plastic with a bisque skin tone. Her face has hand-painted details such as searing blue eyes with applied eyelashes. Her two wigs have different colours. The 1st wig is flame coloured blended with chestnut. The 2nd wig is platinum. She comes adorned in a daring black satin coat dress, with rhinestone charm decorations, a black satin belt with a rhinestone buckle, black skirt with ruffle trim, black tights, and black satin pumps. Her additional outfit components include a red satin dress, blue satin pumps, a black lace bodysuit, black sunglasses and a fuchsia pink satin purse with rhinestone decoration. The gift set comes with a stand. I'm guessing she is trying to channel a youthful Anna Wintour. The doll looks great but the outfit is not what I'd like to see on her. Completely mismatched accessories are ok but not special as should be the case for such a giftset and at this price. Great idea to have two wigs although I'd ditch the underwear and have a third, raven wig added instead.


The breakfast on the 31st brought everyone together for the last time in the convention and was dedicated to the Déjà vu line.

Déjà vu Dame de Loisirs
Convention doll (?)
Estimated availability: 8th of June 2015
Limited Edition of 200, $175.00.
Available to order from Tonner Direct


Dame de Loisirs (Lady of Leisure) is a dressed doll with a face that includes hand-painted details such as blue eyes with applied black eyelashes. Her Déjà vu™ head sculpt and 16" Déjà vu™ body are crafted from fine quality vinyl and hard plastic in a cameo skin tone. Her red rooted saran hair is accentuated with pink faux flowers and feather hair decoration. Her light blue dress is highlighted with pink bows and an attached petticoat. Her pink tights bring out the blue in the matching taffeta shoes with bow accent. Dame de Loisirs arrives with a stand. Lovely hair. For the era represented, this outfit is undergarments actually.


She also came on a new Tonner furniture piece, a chaise, styled appropriately for her era. I thin we have not seen furniture from Tonner since the Tyler heyday. It was sold out soon after appearing on the Tonner Direct on-line store. It was priced at $100.


As Tonner does not have a club like Integrity, there were no informative emails about the convention and the dolls, so all my info and photos are from their Facebook page and website. 

© 2015 All photos and information Tonner® Doll Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Tonner 2015 Mainline Collection

Tonner Doll just released their 2015 mainline collection on their websites. We are going to have a look at the fashion dolls from the release and any other doll that could be described as fashion doll as well. First up is the Marley Wentworth collection: Tyler's younger sister is all grown up and has taken her place as the fashion plate of the Tonner universe. She has her own sculpt (which looks good, especially with certain make up colours) and the 16"Chic Body which is a  variation of the Antoinette body, with broader shoulders and a fuller bust. It was first seen on the Carmen Dell'Orefice doll (which we are still waiting to see as a commercial release). 

Positive/Negative Marley Wentworth Dressed Doll
Suggested retail price: $189.99
T15MWDD01


Marley is a doll with a face that includes hand-painted details, made of  vinyl and hard plastic. She has the Marley Wentworth™ head sculpt with the 16" Chic body in the Bisque skin tone. She has green painted eyes with applied eyelashes, chestnut rooted saran hair. She is wearing a black and white stripe sequin knit dress, accessorized with nude pantyhose, a pair of rhinestone earrings and silver faux leather shoes. She comes with a stand. LE of 500 dolls.


I like her, I really do. So much so that I am pre-ordering her. She looks great. Her face strucks a nice balance between conventionally beautiful and model style, and this colouring fits her well. I have not ordered a Tonner fashion doll since Short n' Sassy Peggy Harcourt back in 2013. The dress is not perfect (at least in the production photo) but the doll looks so good I can get over it if it is not good. No earrings shown in the photos and the pumps look like someone photo shopped the heels). That's not the way to do promo shoots Tonner. And it has been like this for quite some time now.

Skyline Blue Marley Wentworth
Suggested Retail Price: $189.99
T15MWDD03


Skyline Blue Marley is a dressed doll again in the bisque skin tone, with blue painted eyes and applied eyelashes. sporting raven non-removable wigged saran hair. She is wearing a royal blue dress under a matching royal blue coat with assorted blue gauntlets. Her accessories include nude pantyhose, pink metallic shoes and a purple metallic bag. Stand included. LE 500 dolls.


Not bad but not exciting like her previous incarnation. She looks half done, as if the person making her suddenly decided they had better things to do.If the lapels were normal and the hair in an updo, she could very well have come out of the latest Prada catwalk show - without the luxurious accessories of course.

Rose, Rouge Marley Wentworth
Suggested Retail Price: $179.99
T15MWDD02


The third Marley dressed doll has the bisque skin tone, with hazel painted eyes with applied eyelashes and strawberry rooted saran hair. She is wearing a pink and red knit dress with flower trim, which comes with a white tulle petticoat. Her accessories include nude pantyhose with attached panties, black faux leather shoes, a green faux leather bag and black sunglasses. Stand included. LE of 500 dolls.


This one looks good. I love the outfit and the doll. If she had earrings and a bracelet/watch, she would be perfect. Her colouring is gorgeous. It seems that red hair in any shade fit Marley well. Can anyone explain why she is $10 cheaper than the previous ones when she has more accessories than they do?

Marley Deluxe Basic
Suggested Retail Price: $119.99


This is the basic doll version of Marley Wentworth. She has a face with hand-painted details, she is made in vinyl and hard plastic, has the Marley Wentworth™ head sculpt on a 16" Chic body in the bisque skin tone, with blue painted eyes with applied eyelashes, She comes with  two wigs: short raven saran wig and long platinum saran wig (that's nice!)/ She is wearing a black lace slip dress over nude panties and black faux leather shoes. She comes with a stand and is a LE of 500 dolls. A nice basic doll but wigged - which does not always go well with collectors. Coming with two wigs though is a plus. Pity they did not include a face close up shot - come on guys, this is a basic doll, don't show me the pumps! Her face makes or breaks her.

Cool Chic - Outfit Only
Suggested Retail Price: $99.99
T15MWOF03


The collection includes two outfits but only this one was photographed. They have put up a sketch for the other one (a black sequin and net dress with gladiator boots called Crazy Nights) but I do not like that - if you are pre-ordering something, it has to be at least upon seeing a photograph of the finished product. This outfit consists of a black faux patent leather coat with white faux fur collar over a white knit bodysuit and a black faux patent leather skirt. It comes with a pair of black boot tights (veeery fashionable right now, Karlie Kloss rocked a pair a while ago), a white and black faux leather bag and black sunglasses. LE of 300. I do not like the fastenings but the rest looks great. Wonder how well the boot tights will look in real life.

Re-Imagination
Bianca Lapin dressed doll
Suggested Retail Price : $189.99
T15FTDD02


Re-Imagination is the Tonner Doll line where dolls are inspired by fairy-tale characters with a twist. Some times they are gorgeous (Vassilissa, The Christmas Carol ghosts come to mind) and sometimes not. This time the collection has Alice In Wonderland as inspiration (again) with quite a twist. Bianca Lapin is of course the White Rabbit (Bianca is white in Italian and lapin is the rabbit in French). She is a dressed doll with the Duchess head sculpt on the 16" Chic body (it seems this is the main body for fashion dolls with Tonner now) in the lily skin tone. She has light blue painted eyes and platinum rooted saran hair. She is wearing an off white knit coat with faux fur trim over a matching faux leather dress with belt over nude pantyhose with attached panties and off white faux leather knee high boots. She comes with a stand. LE of 500 dolls.


Courreges meets Bjork. Quirky and eccentric, like the White Rabbit always should be. If the outfit is finished well, she will rock. I love the boots. Hope the ties don't tear the faux leather apart when put on.

Tweedle DeDe Dressed doll
Suggested Retail Price $169.99
T15FTDD01


This one has the Jon head sculpt (from Cami & Jon) on the 16" Chic body in the honey skin tone. She comes with brown painted eyes and mink with red rooted saran hair. She is wearing a white and black stripe knit bodysuit under a black shantung dress with attached red tulle petticoat. Her accessories include white and black stripe knit thigh highs, a black and white choker, nude pantyhose and black faux leather boots. Stand included. LE of 500 dolls.



Of course this one is a fashionable, Gaultier-esque version of Tweedledee, one of the twins in Through The Looking Glass. She looks really nice but where are the boots?

Haddy Madigan dressed doll
Suggested retail price of $219.99
T15FTDD03


The third dressed doll of the Re-Imagination release is a twist on the Mad Hatter character from Alice In Wonderland. She has the Liu Liu head sculpt on a 16" Chic body in the cameo skin tone, with blue painted eyes and mink rooted saran hair. She is wearing a black multi-coloured top with ruffle trim over a matching multi-sequin chiffon skirt with ruffle trim. Accessories include a hat (not mentioned in the description - THE important accessory of the Mad Hatter), black faux leather shoes and nude pantyhose. Stand included. LE of 500 dolls.


The Asian of the group is the most extravagantly dressed, aptly enough for this Mad Hatter inspired extravaganza. Pith her shoes are black instead of rainbow striped coloured. She sports one net gauntlet since the jacket has only one sleeve. Would be lovely to see her with a tea-pot shaped bag and a pair of opera binoculars.

Charlie Dodgson dressed doll
Suggested Retail Price: $189.99
T15FTDD04


The only male character this time, he has his own Charlie Dodgson head sculpt on the 17" Matt O'Neill™ body in the Tyler skin tone, with blue painted eyes and sandy blonde non-removable wigged saran hair, He is wearing a blue stripe shirt under a dark grey suit. He has grey knit socks and black molded plastic shoes with laces. Stand included. LE of 500 dolls.


Charles Lutwidge Dodgson is the real life name of the famous Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass and other beloved books. Here he becomes a dashing young man in a suit, a bit too plain compared to the rest of the line up. I know he's supposed to be taking on the Alice role in this re-imagined version of the story but he could have been styled a bit more eccentric. After all, Tonner has released tons of male dolls in plain suits. He looks fit to take Marley out for drinks! Handsome face though. Tempting. 

Photos © 2015 Tonner® Doll Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.