Investing in Character: Musings on Anna Egorova's Alexander

Dollectors run the whole gamut - from play line to antique. “Why collect?” seems to be the question those who do not tend to ask those of us who do. And the wealth of answers would fill a tome or two. For collecting dolls is a highly personal endeavor that, as times goes by, changes with our evolving perspective on life. Dolls accompany us on our journey and, for many, provide not only aesthetic delight but also solace from the challenges of existence. And that, dear readers, could be a fine definition of the concept of relationship. Our dolls, ourselves, says the motto under the title of this blog. We are our dolls.

With such a concept in mind, this 1st of September 2026 entry focuses on character as the defining quality of a doll’s creation. Increasingly, our editors tend to gravitate to the doll for its potential to express spirit, disposition, temperament - all ingredients associated with personality and individuality.

When Dolldom first met Anna Egorova’s Alexander Version 1, a reflection on character began. Alexander is a 1:4th scale ball jointed doll created to supplement what to her was a limited range of coded-as-made BJDs that “didn’t fully reflect the possibilities of expressing male characters.” Egorova wanted to explore that gap and express her own vision while capturing certain aspects of masculine beauty as she understood them. Alexander is not a doll that seeks fashion to fully become, but rather a presence capable of eliciting storytelling while wearing a simple pair of pants, his feet bare and his hands positioned as if in action to enhance further the realism of Egorova’s sculpting. It seems impossible to look at Alexander’s different face plates and not wonder: “Who are these guys?”

Being in the presence of Alexander will provide ongoing opportunities for studying the sculpt and the question of what makes us human – not unlike when one is deep in thought in a philosophical excursion with a good book. Alexander is an entity; he has a tale of despair and survival and another of inspiration and salvation, both for you to discover as you engage with him.

Egorova has re-opened the opportunity to pre-order Alexander V.2, offering to those interested the principal role in the definition of his character by choosing from a selection of three face plates, three wig styles, three different resin tones, a myriad eye colors, and the option of a blank or a hand painted doll.

This entry celebrates character – Alexander style – and invites you, dear reader, to figure out who these souls are, what their names are, what their passions are, what their joys as well as their despairs are. Intentionally photographed wearing the same style and almost in the same exact position, the focus of your attention becomes the essence, the substance, the individuality of each countenance. Once you give them a name (or they suggest it to you), they will become.

For more information as well as to order your own Alexander V.2, visit Egorova’s website as well as her Instagram feed.

Credits:

Coat and turtleneck by Chewin Doll (made to fit Numina Doll coded as male dolls)

Shorts by Shantommo 

Which Alexander are you? 

His Name Is Alexander

The work of sculptor Anna Egorova impacted us greatly back in 2023 with Egorova’s debut into the realm of 1/4th BJDs: Alexander. Presented with the option of two distinct faceplates, Egorova’s sculpting immediately conveyed a clear intention: by harmoniously melding hyper-realistic anatomical elements to the corporeal fragmentation inherent to this doll form, Alexander led us on an exploration of the struggles of human existence – a substantial achievement not solely in artistic terms, but also in the redefinition of a doll’s potential.

Our photographic work with Alexander (with both first-issue faceplates) has veered greatly from our sartorially-propelled approach with other BJDs in the 1/4th scale, devoting our efforts instead to writing more philosophically about dolls as in “What We See Is What We Get”, an exploration of how our subconscious manages to sort out the tension created by countenances that while conveying pathos still manage to co-exist with bodies suggestive of sparagmos.

This past March 2026, Egorova shipped out her new Alexander Remastered (offered for commission in late 2025) and was kind to gift us with her time answering questions about her creative process.

Dolldom: What was you intention when creating Alexander? Why create a doll coded as male versus a doll coded as female?

Egorova: I’ve long been interested in the theme of male dolls—in fact, there are even slightly more of them than female ones in my portfolio. My path in this direction really took shape with the doll Konstantin (1/6th scale); in this sense, the doll Alexander is more of a continuation of the same theme, but on a larger scale.

What drew me to male dolls in the first place was that, at the time, in the BJD community (at least in my country), there were not that many male BJD representations, and this limited range didn’t fully reflect the possibilities of expressing male characters. I wanted to explore that gap and express my own vision of a male figure in my work, to capture certain aspects of masculine beauty as I understand it.

Dolldom: Who is Alexander? How do you as his creator see him?

Egorova: The core theme of Alexander is the melancholy of an observer looking through time. The image that I had in mind while creating all three dolls was initially conceived as something more extensive, including detailed work not only on the sculpt but also on the costume. It was primarily inspired by the spirit of early 20th-century decadence, with touches of post-apocalypse. I even wanted to build a diorama resembling a semi-ruined fragment of an old house in Saint Petersburg to display Alexander, but unfortunately, I didn’t have enough energy to bring all these plans to life.

Dolldom: Is it correct to infer that each faceplate is a different character? Who are they?

Egorova: I’m not particularly strong at creating narratives about characters and prefer to express emotions through visual art. Nevertheless, the facial types and overall imagery evoke the beginning of the 20th century in Russia (where I’m from), a historical period marked by fundamental events whose echoes we still feel today. It feels somewhat ironic that now, at the beginning of the 21st century, I find myself in forced emigration—just as many artists did exactly 100 years ago—and I can’t help but notice this parallel. I hope that I managed to capture this mood in them.

Dolldom: What values propel your process of creation?

Egorova: A ball-jointed doll is quite a complex technical object, which, beyond its visual value, also needs to feel comfortable when handled by human hands. As a result, I’m constantly searching for optimal solutions: trying new painting methods, varnishes, adjusting certain joint mechanisms, and refining gluing techniques.

Dolldom: What approaches to face-ups and body blushing does Alexander Remastered bring?

Egorova: Painting and some proportional changes are more the result of technical development rather than a deliberate artistic device. First, I’ve started using an airbrush, which allows for soft, delicate gradients. In theory, this can help me get closer to greater realism, which is my goal. Previously, I painted everything by hand using pastels—an interesting method in its own way, but more labor-intensive, with a higher risk of imperfections and less flexibility. So, for now, I’m really enjoying exploring the possibilities that the airbrush offers.

Dolldom: We appreciate your sculpting and painting for its naturalistic intentions. Is this a viable assessment?

Egorova: I’ve always been drawn to realism—I have high sensory sensitivity, and through sculpting and imagery I try to convey my fascination with the visual and tactile world. It’s as if I see the world under a microscope. At the same time, it’s a goal that never feels fully attainable, so I’m always in the process—and that progression is visible in how the sculpt evolves across newer versions.

Dolldom’s first entry featuring Egorova’s Alexander Remastered (with three different faceplates, wigs and mustaches all handmade by the artist) aims to evoke time travel by placing Alexander in two distinct chronological points that share one emotional parallel.

Editors’ note: A new pre-order opportunity for Alexander Remastered will open this coming May 2026. For updates and information, follow Egorova’s via her site Solar Wind Dolls, her Instagram, and Facebook accounts.

"Arthit" Tuxedo by Chewin Doll

Jacket by Chewin Doll

Hakama by JAMIEshow Doll

Arthit" Tuxedo by Chewin Doll

Fashion by LizRetros

Arthit" Tuxedo by Chewin Doll

Coat by Chewin Doll

Top by Valey of Dolls 

Dolls, face-ups, body blushing, wigs and mustaches by Anna Egorova for Solar Wind Dolls

Follow Anna Egorova via her site Solar Wind Dolls, her Instagram, and Facebook accounts.

Alexander's Afternoon

 Alexander by Anna Egorova spent a late summer afternoon here at Dolldom discussing the release of their new versions coming out tomorrow August 16. Three new face sculpts and an enhanced physique are the main attractions to what is already one of the most captivating presences in the realm of 1/4 scale, coded-as-male BJDs with their precise anatomic sculpting and superb posing. Additionally, Egorova will be offering wigs, additional face-plates and her inspired painting of these most unique sculptures. 

For this exclusive portfolio, Dolldom's two resident Alexander dolls model clothing by Chewin Doll and jewelry by Exsyntrik, both long-time collaborators of this blog. For more information on Alexander or to pre-order Alexander, make sure that you visit Egorova's Solar Wind Dolls site. 

Solar Wind Dolls 

What We See Is What We Get

And what we see (as much as what we get) is based on our ability to question how we determine what is real. A doll is a real as its porcelain, resin, vinyl and hard plastic form, and as our powers of make-believe allow. But in some instances, the doll (and their creator) aim to take the experience to a different level and insist that we engage more deeply in the dynamic by asking us to question how we recognize (versus know) what is intrinsically human. 

Anna Egorova's Alexander ball-jointed doll is one perfect example. Perhaps we look at him and react adversely (thank you, Sigmund Freud, for the uncanny) to the segmentation of his body, almost as if we were facing an autopsied body à la Frankenstein's monster. Perhaps we connect immediately with his eyes and sense his sadness (or his serenity) in the same way that we've done with a lover. But ultimately we are with him, using our own tool kit for finding the human traits with which we identify. Some may even take it further, and aim to closely read Alexander just to be able to capture that subtle gesture with which he reveals his intimate reality (thank you, Miguel de Unamuno for el querer ser). And then, the sky is the limit. 

In this study of Egorova's Alexander, Dolldom invites its readers to partake of the examination of an illusion to hopefully arrive at a revelation of the self. Who Alexander ends up being will be the product of who we are. And who we are will end up being the product of who Alexander empowers us to be. 

Alexander in a resin ball-jointed doll created, hand painted, and wigged by Anna Egorova of Solar Wind Dolls. 

Le Petit Prince: Sparkling Edition

Dolldom welcomes April with a little bit of fancy: Jupiter by Menagerie's MarmiteSue in another exquisitely conceived and executed fashion by ValeyofDolls. Titled "Sparkling Little Prince", the elegant set made of a luxe Lurex fabric with silk satin lining gives off a spacey royal vibe. 

Resources for readers:

ValeyofDolls on Etsy

Wig by Chewin Doll

Jupiter by MarmiteSue

Natural Wonders

ValeyofDolls' unique take on men's sartorial design is nothing short of jaw-dropping, in fact, it's magic: the colors, the materials, the accessories. No detail is left unexamined. And who better to model this miniaturized couture but the men of Menagerie's Marmite Sue by Eli Effenberger?  

In ValeyofDolls' immaculately constructed fashions, Saturn, Jupiter and Venus Baby find their apotheosis of style becoming three essential elements of nature: air, water and fire. 

Fire

Changeant Dupioni silk is the foundation for this halter style with attached cravat. 

The headpiece, also by ValeyofDolls, is a daringly amazing way to announce the evolution of the hat. Wig by Chewin Doll.

Air

A gorgeous sapphire blue stretch panné velvet, becomes an innovative take on the classic pairing of slacks and turtleneck top.

Top favorite of many of Dolldom's human denizens who want it in their scale.  Wig by Chewin Doll.

Water

Emerald sparkles. Glittered lace over tulle gauze tank accompany charmeuse satin wide-leg slacks and it's not an obvious pairing. In the expert hands of ValeyofDolls, it becomes a work of art. 

The matching swimming cap is the perfect illustration of ValeyofDolls' playful aesthetic. Wig by NuminaDoll. 

ValeyofDolls on Etsy and Instagram

MarmiteSue on Instagram