They are so scarry all massed together like that. I think one or two antique dolls mixed in with an eclectic apartment can be cool, but a huge display is creepy and should be left to old ladies and horror movies.

egad...that freaked me out!

If she must display them all, I think a set of built-in gridlike shelves is the way to go, with one doll per slot. Make them fairly shallow so that they don't get lost in the shadows and light from overhead with a few recessed eyeballs.

Displaying 5 or so at a time and rotating them periodically would be less dominating in a room, though.

Doll collections are tricky. I think the best way to show them by a mix of closed and open storage. Hide most of them and pick a few to display. By showing only a few at a time you avoid making your collection look like a scene from the "Children of the Corn" or "Child's Play." When arranging them avoid grouping the dolls and choose a compartmentalized display system that separates them (this also keeps the dolls from plotting against you in your sleep).

I grew up in a house full of dolls (my grandmother was an avid collector), the majority of which never saw daylight. We did, however, have a six-foot brass and glass curio in our living room in which we displayed 4 or 5 of her very best dolls. It was a nice display, but I agree with princesseleni; display just a couple within one space, and among other knick-knacks, so as to not overwhelm and creep anyone out. My grandmother displayed many other dolls on a long sideboard in our family room, but whenever my friends visited they would turn them around so they weren't "staring" at them!

That said, after we sold the house, I was given care of those dolls and they are still sitting in boxes in a closet...

ummmm.... what about a storage locker in jersey?

Maybe you could display them scattered on a bookshelf like other people display vases and stuff:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/house-tours/stefanies-house-tour-house-tour-109564 (scroll down to see what I mean)

Or display them playfully like action figures, doing something fun or unexpected.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/boston/inspiration/toy-story-ji-lees-playful-pad-sight-unseen-107515
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/roundup/roundup-toys-as-decor-102935

I suggested these because they're really casual. I feel like when dolls-- and flowers and baby clothes-- are put behind glass, it's a little macabre. And I agree with other comment, do avoid them en masse. If you like the dolls for their playfulness, maybe you could juxtapose them with some nice dinosaurs or transformers. If, on the other hand, you value them because they're antique, maybe put them with other not-so-precious antiques of the era, or just pair them with other interesting objects. But I think pairing them with something non-precious, non-cute is the way to go.

There basically is no way to display a doll collection that isn't creepy, unless they are in a child's room. I don't say that to be mean or snarky, but offer it up as honest criticism from a stranger. Perhaps a museum would be interested in acquiring such a collection.

I've seen a nice display of doll stuff, but it actually only had a few dolls mixed in with antique dollhouse furniture and old doll and barbie clothes. It was very casual and actually looked like something you'd want to pick up and play with. I'd say to rotate a few dolls at a time intermixed with other things.

How about dolls in every room? As someone commented, show a few dolls on shelves, tables, mantelpieces, etc. where one might otherwise find vases or plants or sculptural pieces. That way, there'd not be too many per area, but she could put them all (or most) out.

I agree with home body. If they are dolls like the ones in the picture, no matter how artfully you display them, it's just never going to work for me. I would suggest the opposite of mei-ling and designate one room to your dolls, so they don't interfere with the rest of your decor.

I agree with Meg. Stick them in one room and display them however makes you happy. Then close door and warn people before you bring them in there.
...that's what we do with my dad's insane and obsessive collection of Absolut parapanelia. (we all it the room of 'absolut crap' and it's friggin scary)

I have a similar problem - I used to collect My Little Ponys (only the originals from the 80s, thank you! ;), and have ended up with around 175 of them! I have yet to find a non-creepy way to display them all in our nice home, though...

But honestly, however creepy others may think it is, if you love the dolls, and have spent time "lovingly restoring them", you're free to display them however you want to, whether that's in a big grouping, or a few at a time.

If you decide you'd like to display them all together, why don't you make it into an art project for yourself? Find other doll-like things to collect and display with the dolls so they're not so dominant, like this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/superjunk/3631155800/

Also, if you display them en masse, I think a key to de-creepifying them would be to leave ample space around esach doll, instead of having them sitting all over each other. Piles of baby dolls outside of a kid's room just strike me as the more horror-movie way of displaying them

I definately like mei-ling's idea, too, if you have the space. A few dolls scattered in every room could bring a little whimsy and cohesiveness through your home.

I totally disagree with mei-ling - do NOT scatter them throughout the house. I stayed at a B&B once where the owner's collection of dolls was displayed throughout the house and I honestly felt like there was no escape from the staring eyes of creepy vintage dolls. If she really wants to display then I agree with the suggestion of picking a few at a time and either displaying them museum style on a shelf or in custom cubbies or perhaps setting them up in little 'action scenes' with appropriate accessories and doll furniture.

Doll collections are demented and creepy. They should be hidden from sight and enjoyed privately. Don't display them individually or in groups.

I'd display 'em on eBay...

Like MarianneT my sister collects the 'real'my little ponies. She moved out of my parents house 2 years ago to a tiny shared studio so she couldn't take them whit her. so they are still on display on shelves in her room and the upstairs hallway. So far the display has put of 2 potential byers of the house.................. (and several potential boyfriends in the past)
So display them as long and in anyway you like, but think about how such collections can influence how other people think about you.

LOL, Michael W.

Custom-built acrylic case used as a tall headboard, maybe? The acrylic will communicate a modernity and the notion that this is a valuable collection.

And leave space between the dolls, so that they do not appear "posed": "Display", not "play" dolls. Keep the dolls away from sunlight and moisture.

And lock the case...so when the dolls come alive at night, they don't attack you in your sleep...

Four generations of my family has hand-painted ceramic dolls. Needless to say, "displaying them on eBay" is not something that will ever happen for us :)

What we did was, for special favourites, commissioned a relative to create a glass doll display case for each individual doll, and set up about 5 of the cases across a shelving unit, which gave them an odd kin of built in feel. The reason for doing this was primarily to keep the dolls in good shape while allowing for an essentially 3d view - eventually you'll be dealing with dust getting in the hair, on the clothes, etc, and that's a giant pain in the ass to get rid of.

Ours look sort of, but not completely, like this - http://www.finehomedisplays.com/proddetail.asp?prod=5056 - (Ours are bigger, a different wood, etc)

Inside a closed trunk?

Ok but seriously. Maybe a rotating collection of 5 of the favorite ones at a time, casually hanging out together on a shelf or on top of an armoire. They could be seasonal... the ones in pink and yellow come out during the springtime, etc.

Growing up, my mother had an antique doll collection. She had dolls ranging from the 1950s-1700s. She always kept them displayed in a back bedroom until we moved into a Victorian home that had a little nook in the living room. She built shelves and put her collection there, but it tended to creep out my sister and she didn't like to sit in that room. So, my mother hung huge floor-to-ceiling curtains over the little nook which solved the problem. The large curtains fit with the Victorian style of the home perfectly. She could then open it whenever she wanted to show off the collection, and I could open it whenever I wanted to creep out my sister. :P

Display them wearing cement overshoes in the Hudson River?

Seriously, since these dolls are all from a certain era, I would consider not more than five, as a three dimensional grouping, not just a shelf lined up like soldiers. Think department store window display.

1: De-creepify by adding context: use a series of enlarged copies of colorful illustrations from childrens' books of the era, like "Dick and Jane," as a colorful background. Perhaps grouping with other childrens toys of the era (without glassy eyes) like hanging game boards, blocks, paper doll clothes, toy childrens' dishware, whatever. Make it a natural, organic display, not rows of "evil eyes" glaring at you. Don't have every doll's face pointing directly at the viewer. Some in profile, or various positions, near blocks, jacks, & other similar era toys would make sense to the viewer and add charm. A colorful illustrated background de-intensfies the dolls themselves.

2: Display them among photos or illustrations, of the same era, as if they are a museum display, so the viewer can understand context. For example, photos of little girls of the era, playing with dolls, or cooking with mommy, or doll or other toy advertisements from the era.

3: If you wanted to go the opposite way, and "de-cutsey-fy" them, then suspend every doll an equal distance apart on one wall, by the waist, in a grid pattern, so they are hanging as individual works of art, at varying heights, on a white wall, with some space around each one. Think museum display of a collection, same as any other collection. This would encourage the viewer to look at each doll as an individual object, not a mass. If you do this, one wall only, please, not the whole house!

Just not on the marital bed -- the mother of a guy I once dated (until I saw her Cabbage Patch doll collection) did this --- VERY CREEPY.

How modern (or not) is her house?

I think vintage, displayed in a an otherwise modern setting, can work really well. And I am guessing her porcelain dolls are a lot less disturbing, and FAR more beautiful, than the sample picture.

I love the idea of each doll on a wall-mounted cube (CB@ has 'em), in a rigid grid on a large wall, with lots of air in between, and rotating the collection (dust and light are enemies anyhow) so not all are on display at once.

I've also seen a VERY high shelf (slightly higher than a traditional plate rail) and that space was used... almost like a frieze.

And if displaying them is not an option after all is said and done, I saw an episode of My Parents House (and Candice Olson has done it too) where some very interesting photos were taken of details of the collection, and those were displayed in lieu of the actual collection. A nice way to honor it, and her work.

I also did this:
http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Living-Rooms/Modern-Traditional-NY-Family-Living-Room---UPDATED-with-Befores/detail.esi?oid=506442
for a client with an African doll collection.

Ideally, more info would be helpful in answering this question. Specifically:

1) A good description or photo of the dolls. Are they baby dolls or Japanese geisha? Are they 8 inches tall? Or 24 inches tall? Can they sit? Or are the limbs fixed? Do you want to showcase clothing? How fragile are they? Any special considerations? You get the idea.

2) Some information about how your home is decorated. Is it formal or casual? Hollywood Regency or country? The display needs to work with the rest of your house.

Without this, I'll make a few suggestions:

Kind of a cliche... but if your house is casual-eclectic-vintage, how about seating some in an antique child-size chair? These are pretty easy to find -- styles run the gamut from Lloyd Loom to Eames. Probably best to go with one that has arms and is relatively soft (to safeguard the porcelain).

The other suggestion is to find an INTERESTING item -- like a china cabinet or secretary -- that was originally intended to display something else. So it is a little irreverent. I have a 1940s green-painted secretary that would be perfect for this sort of thing. I also think a mid century china cabinet (one of the sleek ones with glass sliding doors) would be cool and unexpected. With some patience and persistence, you can definitely find the right thing on craigslist, or at a thrift store.

Both of these suggestions mean that you'd only display a small part of the collection at a time. That's probably a good thing, both in terms of visual impact and the longevity of the collection (protection from UV, dust, etc.). I am a big advocate for rotating collections -- every time you do so, you'll see it with new eyes.

Why would you dump a guy because of what his mother had on her bed?

Ever seen Friday the 13th??

"But seriously"-what!? How can this be taken seriously!!

Other than looking like a doll recreation of that one scene from Schindlers List (where's the red jacket in the above photo- EXCELLENT Movie BTW) this truly is creepy. Socio-psyco speaking you have a collection of childhood emotion and anything past what a child might own is considered disturbing, if not at least a red flag. Collections are difficult to show and usually end up being shown with the few top prized items being shown always, due to thier obvious value; and, a few rotating items to keep things interesting or themed. Kind of like a museum (ever heard of the Smithsonian? thier collections are signifcantly larger than what is shown)

If you NEED to show your dolls put them in a room, period. Whether it's snowglobes, Star Wars figures, Baseball cards, comic books, or Rock'n'Roll swag in high volume; they all seem to end up in thier very own room. This is done for peace of mind (security and/or mental). This way those who share your obsession can revel in your fortune and those that don't can be at peace not knowing that a collection of coveted creepy love riddled artifacts are screaming for your love from behind an unlabeled door despite your glaringly silent absence.

that picture has me reaching for strong alcohol and a dark, quiet place

Formosagirl -- no, a strong drink in the company of funny boisterous people -- so I can forget the dusty baggage of my childhood!

I also vote for having 4 or 5 out on display at a time, arranged with other toys from that era.

I have a feeling that someone who collects dolls of this era does not have a modern home (If she's like me, her dream home would have sleeping porches and a farmhouse sink with a drainboard).

I just can't picture these dolls in cubes, glass boxes, or in a sleek mid-century display case. I think they would just look out-of-place, and it would magnify the creepy effect.

Instead, I would suggest getting a few old drawers, the deeper the better. Drawers from a damaged dresser would be best, because they would be longer and more likely to have a curved front or interesting hardware...but it will probably be easier to find drawers from damaged kitchen cabinets (check flea markets or your local salvage store - to find one near you, check www.ReDo.org, www.habitat.org/env/restores.aspx, & http://loadingdock.org/about/NationalReuse/index.html). Wire or metal crates would work too. If you are worried about it looking too precious, then the rougher, more splintered, and industrial-looking the boxes are, the better.

Then, mount a few of the drawers or crates on the wall as shadow boxes. Set up a doll or two in each one, in a vignette with other toys and books.

It has two benefits. One, it allows you to enjoy your dolls when you arrange them poking out of a rollerskate or playing chess or whatever. Two, you reduce damage from dust and light if you rotate the collection.

To me, if it looks like an 8-year old could come along and pick them up at any minute, then they're not so creepy. If they look like a "collection," then they're creepy.

On a side note, I have a funny doll story: Right after college, my two childhood friends and I left the dorms and moved in together. We had my sister over for a style consultation (she's got a natural talent for interior decorating). She walked into B's room, opened her closet, and jumped back. The closet was full of cheap, glassy-eyed 1980's Franklin Mint dolls on stands, staring out at her. Then she walked into J's room, opened the closet...and screamed. Exact same thing in the closet. She was freaked out and thought maybe I was playing some kind of joke on her. No, I told her, my friends really were that cheesy. She talked them both into putting the dolls out on bookshelves in their bedrooms. Sis told me that if they had to have the %&$* dolls, at least they should be out in the open instead of lying in wait to give someone a heart attack.

I completely agree that displaying them in context to something of the era is a great idea. Like putting a newspaper that sold the doll for $.05 inside the display with the doll could be pretty cool. No matter what, though, make sure you display the dolls behind glass. Not only will that protect them from the elements & some sun damage, but it will keep them from escaping and murdering you in your sleep. :-)

Why not do what Demi Moore did and buy them their own house!

Perhaps the secret here is to maximise their status as antique objects and minimise their status as little faux people.

Fix mounts to a short wall in a perfect grid pattern (say 4 across and 6 down) and fix the dolls to the mounts, so that they sit out a little from the wall. I'm imagining a vertical bracket running the full length of each doll's back, with wires at the top and bottom.

In doing this you are avoiding the glass cabinets that scream "GRANDMA!" and implying that they are art objects and/or museum pieces, not creepy replacement children.

On no account give them little chairs to sit on.

I'm a little torn on this one. On one hand, there's part of me that thinks you definitely need closed storage, to ward off dust mites and all. Maybe bookshelves in a fun, casual color with glass doors. But on the other hand, I agree with some of the other posters that a more casual approach is called for. I like the idea of a shaker-style bench--person sized--with a bunch of your favorites sitting on it. My piano teacher did something like this and it always made me smile, even when I was no longer a child (get over your doll phobias, people).

You could do shadow box type collage displays in a deep frame or small trunk. Little vignettes. I think the trick is displaying them like art & not companions. I dislike it when people get little cribs for their dolls. Creeps me out.

Dolls scares me a lot!

Hmm, I didn't know you had to keep them out of sunlight and stuff when I suggested you keep them out in the open on a bookshelf. I still think putting them behind glass is macabre, though.

Patrick (the other one) had an awesome idea with the photos. Maybe you could store them in matching archival boxes with beautiful photos of the dolls on the outside, so they're sort of 'on display.' Personally, I would take close-up photos of a beautiful detail of clothing or something that is almost abstracted using shallow depth of field so it would make a nice display and make people want to look at the doll inside the box, if they are so inclined. Or putting the photos on the wall would be nice, too.

Don't let people dissuade you from displaying them if you really want to. Who cares if some people think it's creepy? It's your home! Personally I get really creeped out by obsessive cleanliness, taxidermy, kitschy stuff from the 50s, as well as by doll collections, but it's kind of nice to be invited into someone else's home when they're putting themselves out there like that. You never know if you'll creep someone out or find a fellow enthusiast, so just go for it and be yourself. If you can't do that at home, where can you?

clumped all together, sprayed in high gloss black paint, inside a very big shadow box, hung above the sofa.

but that's just me.

I've liked it when people have displayed collectibles in something like the Ikea shelving system, but with the back of each square painted a complement color to make it a more interesting vingette. All of my inherited dolls are at my parent's home, and it'd odd, because I have no idea what I'd do if they absolutely had to be with me.

Speaking as one creepy collector to another, do what makes *you* happy. No one has to live in your house except for you. I do agree with many of the points above though, it's usually better to display any collection together rather than spread about. I especially like putting them in context, setting up playful scenes makes them feel more childlike and accessible - assuming that you're okay with the occasional admirer touching them. Buy some art paper at the craft store to create 'wallpaper' and give them a prop or two. It's better than having them looking like they're all waiting for the bus. And display as many as you like. Displaying any collection is a personal decision, there's no real right or wrong.