Tonner Doll Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Collectible dolls |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Robert Tonner |
| Defunct | December 2018 |
| Headquarters | Kingston, New York , United States |
| Products | Collectible dolls, licensed dolls (Harry Potter, Spider-Man 3, Twilight, DC Comics characters, etc.) |
Number of employees | 24 (2000) |
Tonner Doll Company, Inc. was a firm specializing in the design and distribution of collectible dolls, headquartered in Kingston, New York. Established in 1991 by Robert Tonner, the company focused on upscale fashion dolls and officially licensed merchandise associated with prominent film franchises such as Harry Potter, Spider-Man 3, and Twilight. Its original creations included the Tyler Wentworth, Kitty Collier, and Antoinette collections.
History
The enterprise began in 1991 under the name Robert Tonner Doll Designs (RTDD), founded by entrepreneur Robert Tonner with a small team of three staff members. That same year, RTDD made its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York City, presenting limited-edition porcelain fashion and child dolls with multiple joints, priced between $650 and $1500.
In 1995, Tonner Doll obtained licensing rights to reintroduce the 1950s paper doll Betsy McCall to collectors. To reduce manufacturing expenses, production shifted to China, where vinyl dolls were produced—these became one of the company’s early commercial hits.
As the company grew, RTDD rebranded itself as Tonner Doll Company and expanded its staff to 24 employees by the year 2000, including roles in design, marketing, and sales. This growth was accompanied by a diversification of its product range and an increase in market reach.
In 2017, Tonner Doll unveiled its first transgender doll inspired by activist Jazz Jennings, marking a deliberate step toward greater inclusivity in representation.
Despite its expansion and influence within the collectible doll industry, Tonner Doll Company discontinued operations in December 2018.
Licensing
Tonner Doll maintained licensing agreements to create dolls based on significant American television shows, movies, comic books, and video game properties. Following the 1995 Betsy McCall doll release, Tonner secured rights for characters from films such as Titanic (1997) and Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). By 2006, licenses included characters from the Harry Potter series and Memoirs of a Geisha.
The DC STARS Collection by Tonner Doll featured licensed figures from DC Comics including Aquaman, Batgirl, Batman, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Joker, Superman, Wonder Woman, among others available in various doll sizes.
Additional licenses held by Tonner Doll encompassed franchises like the Twilight Saga, Tomb Raider, Chicago, Dreamgirls, The Chronicles of Narnia, Disney Princesses, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, The Lord of the Rings, as well as Disney’s Prince of Persia and Princess Tiana.
Buyout
In 2002, Tonner Doll acquired Effanbee Doll Company, securing exclusive rights to classic characters such as Bernard Lipfert's 1928 Patsy doll along with fashion dolls licensed through Tribune Media like Brenda Starr and Little Orphan Annie. Initially functioning as a separate subsidiary, Effanbee was eventually fully absorbed into Tonner Doll’s operations. The Effanbee brand continued to produce doll lines designed, manufactured, marketed, and distributed under Tonner Doll’s management while preserving its original branding.
Additional resources
- Robert Tonner Inspirations: An intimate guided exploration of the cultural influences behind the renowned doll designer's work and legacy, Reverie Publishing Company 2006
- The Robert Tonner Story: Dreams and Dolls, Stephanie Finnegan, Portfolio Press 2000
External links
- Articles with short description
- 1991 establishments in New York (state)
- 2018 disestablishments in New York (state)
- American companies established in 1991
- American companies disestablished in 2018
- Defunct manufacturing companies based in New York (state)
- Doll manufacturing companies
- Kingston, New York
- Toy companies established in 1991
- Toy companies of the United States
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment