Rexard Dolls

Also sold as "Faun" dolls, in Australia

This interesting range of dolls were designed by Odette Arden for Rexard, who were based in Brighton, Sussex; Despite their English pedigree, Rexard dolls were made in "The British Empire", which in reality meant that they were being manufactured in Hong Kong.   These dolls were also sold in Australia, under the "Faun" brand name.

Rexards were aimed at the younger collector, being priced to be affordable to the child on a pocket money income.   The dolls were extremely attractive, having pretty features, and were generally well painted.   Clothes were bright and colourful, and the range of characters available mirrored very closely the Nisbet dolls they were competing against.

But there were significant differences, which were not always immediately obvious from the study of photographs alone.   Rexard dolls were hollow, being moulded in two halves, which were stuck together, (like many of the "Airfix" model kits so popular in the 1960's and 1970's).   They had movable arms, retained in the body by an elastic band, (the same system used by Nisbet dolls).

This hollow construction gives the collector the first clue to determining if they have a Nisbet - All nisbet dolls were solid plastic, and so were much heavier than their Rexard counterparts.   Also, the majority of Rexards we have seen were made in a very pale, waxy, near white colour plastic - Nisbets were made in a much better flesh coloured plastic material.

Rexard costumes were usually made from thin, screenprinted cotton material or similar - They were colourful and attractive enough, but the clothes lacked the finesse and quality so evident in even the cheaper "Souvenir" dolls Nisbet produced.   Nisbets, by comparison, used quality materials, which were generally thicker, often lined, and most often carried the pattern in the weave.

The fledgeling Nisbet collector, (and even some seasoned "old hands"), have to be particularly aware of these dolls, because as pretty as they are, they will ultimately disappoint, if purchased with the expectation of obtaining a doll with the quality of a Nisbet!

Move your mouse cursor over each portrait to display the doll name

News

21st September 2023

 

Important Announcement

 

My dear wife, Christine, passed away on the 8th December, 2021, after 8 weeks in hospital. I was by her side, when she slipped away from me peacefully, with no pain or suffering.

 

Chris had been struggling with a slow decline in health, associated with a progressive, untreatable, and ultimately terminal lung disease, and finally succumbed to her old adversary, Pneumonia.

 

We had been friends for 55 years, together as a couple for 50 years, and married just a month short of 48 years, when she died.   

 

This website was Chris's idea, and I did all the technical stuff, to make it work.   After news of Chris's passing reached her close friends in the doll collecting world, I was deeply touched and gratified to hear their tributes to my dear wife, and I must thank them all for their kindness and support.   Ultimately, it was her doll friends that gave me the courage to continue with the website.

 

In the months before her eventual hospitalisation, Chris had outlined a number of additions and changes she wanted to make to the website, and it is my intention to honour those wishes, and to implement the changes we had considered, over the coming weeks and months.

 

I must apologise to all those who have written to us via the website, only to have your emails go unanswered.   Unfortunately, the email system had been hacked aroung the time Chris was going into hospital, and many emails must have been lost, as a result.

 

As you might imagine, I felt completely broken by Chris's loss, and it is only now, almost 22 months after her passing, that I have felt strong enough to even look at the website again.   

 

My aim is to continue with the website, and to implement Chris's aims for her many new ideas as soon as I can.   In the meantime, I have hopefully got the email system sorted out, and I will attempt to answer any enquiries as soon as I can, and to send replies with the same high degree of accuracy that a reply from Chris would have had.

 

From now on, I will be flying solo, whilst my co-pilot and guide will be soaring much higher, (though she is always in my heart, and in my thoughts).

 

My thanks to all our website visitors for your continued support

 

Dave (also known as Arthur), and Chris, (my lost love, Guinevere)

 

Christine Poulten

25th December 1949 - 8th December 2021