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Happy Meal Barbie

Doll
2001 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Miniature Barbie doll in original packaging with accompanying photo frame and sheet of stickers. The doll has moulded and painted features and is of all-in-one construction apart from her jointed head and arms: she has blue eyes and long dark brown rooted nylon hair, the top of which is caught back with a blue thread. She is moulded as wearing a round-necked white top with a fuchsia pink five-point star motif, and three-quarter length sleeves of bright blue; her short skirt is also of bright blue, and her high-heeled platform-soled shoes are fuchsia pink. All her 'clothing' is of non-removable moulded vinyl except for a blue nylon fabric skirt worn over the moulded vinyl one.
The photograph frame is of moulded pink vinyl in the form of a stylized five-petalled flower, containing a slip-in picture roundel of Barbie, and with a small sheet of coloured stickers (mainly hearts, stars and crescent shapes) to decorate it. The packaging consists of a translucent white vinyl holder for the doll, a paper slip showing the four dolls in the series, and a clear polythene bag for the photo frame, all contained within a clear polythene bag which is printed in black with safety warnings in various languages.

Object details

Object type
TitleHappy Meal Barbie (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Moulded vinyl
Brief description
'Happy Meal Barbie' doll made for Mattel, Inc/ McDonalds Corporation; China, 2001
Physical description
Miniature Barbie doll in original packaging with accompanying photo frame and sheet of stickers. The doll has moulded and painted features and is of all-in-one construction apart from her jointed head and arms: she has blue eyes and long dark brown rooted nylon hair, the top of which is caught back with a blue thread. She is moulded as wearing a round-necked white top with a fuchsia pink five-point star motif, and three-quarter length sleeves of bright blue; her short skirt is also of bright blue, and her high-heeled platform-soled shoes are fuchsia pink. All her 'clothing' is of non-removable moulded vinyl except for a blue nylon fabric skirt worn over the moulded vinyl one.
The photograph frame is of moulded pink vinyl in the form of a stylized five-petalled flower, containing a slip-in picture roundel of Barbie, and with a small sheet of coloured stickers (mainly hearts, stars and crescent shapes) to decorate it. The packaging consists of a translucent white vinyl holder for the doll, a paper slip showing the four dolls in the series, and a clear polythene bag for the photo frame, all contained within a clear polythene bag which is printed in black with safety warnings in various languages.
Dimensions
  • Doll height: 15.5cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • © 2001 MATTEL INC./ BARBIE ™/ MADE FOR McD. CORP./ MADE IN CHINA TJT/ PAT. PENDING/ S9U (Makers marks; Back of doll's moulded vinyl skirt; moulding)
  • HAPPY MEAL Barbie ™/ © 2001 McDonald's Corporation/ BARBIE is a registered trademark owned and used under license from Mattel, Inc./ © 2001 Mattel, Inc. All rights reserved. (Makers marks; Paper slip (obverse); printing; printer's ink)
  • Barbie ™ ©2001 MATTEL INC./ BARBIE™ MADE FOR McD.CORP./ MADE IN CHINA/ TJT (Makers marks; photo frame; moulding)
Credit line
Given by Liliana Heinrich
Object history
Previously owned by Liliana (Lila) Heinrich. The 'Barbie' set from which this doll comes was available only in 2001, jointly available with 'Hot Wheels' cars. There has been a certain amount of controversy over this, notably in the USA, with protest from the public that these were made available by employees only as 'Girls' toys' and 'Boys' toys, although the company has stated that this is not official policy.
Production
Made for use as a McDonald's promotional giveaway with a Happy Meal

Attribution note: Advertising material
Collection
Accession number
B.11-2002

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Record createdApril 1, 2003
Record URL
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