Reviews (18)

Fashion diva becomes a Grecian goddess
This is one of the best dolls in this excellent series. With her upswept hair, vampish eye makeup and draped gown she is one of the most glamorous Barbies to come out recently. The back of the box shows a prototype doll using a standard Barbie head sculpt, fortunately this doll was actually produced using the Lea/Kayla head sculpt which is clearly a better choice. The only fault I can find with this doll is the fact that her dress is sewn on so if you plan on redressing her you will have to carefully undo the stitching, this doesn't ruin the dress but is a nuicance considering that it could have easily been made with snaps. Other than my one objection, and if you plan on leaving her as is this won't be a problem, I do think this doll is an outstanding value.

Princess of Ancient Greece Barbie
Overall, I have to say that the Princess of Ancient Greece is a lovely doll. I like her costume because it looks authentic. I do not like her hair because it looks as though her hair was cut to achieve her updo, which gives it a bit of a rough appearance. I would recommend this doll if you are interested in Ancient Greece, the Dolls of the World collection, or collectable Barbies.

Reviews (18)

Shameful, Mattel.
I've stumbled far from my usually path here in the Amazon, and though I'd normally just quietly head back to my own realm, I'm just so struck by this ridiculous doll that I've got to say something.The description of this doll suggests that she represents all of the "beauty and splendor" of the imperial era ...whose beauty and splendor?The Portuguese Empire was a very evil, deadly thing for millions of real, living human beings, as all empires are.Is there a "Colonized Subject of the Portuguese Empire Barbie" to go with this one?How about an "African Slave Barbie"?An "Indentured Indian Servant Barbie"?
This toy glosses over a lot of real-life horror and cruelty, romanticizing and misinterpreting history.What is the educational value of this toy?Not only is it none, it seems that it is even anti-educational in that it misinterprets and misinforms.A "Portuguese Princess Barbie" would have been fine ...but why would ANYONE make a children's doll which glorifies Empire?Adding that one word brings so much baggage, and so much pain that still exists in many people in the world today.Shame, shame, shame on Mattel for this ignorance.A toy-maker should be much more careful about what they're producing for children.

Portuguese mom
I bought this lovely doll for my mother,who is Portuguese.She was thrilled. I ended up having to buy several more for the grandkids, as she won't let them touch hers! She is one popular and beautiful doll and everyone that has recieved one has been delighted.

Reviews (11)

okay
though she is very pretty and her dress is made out of nice fabric i think her dress is very plain. no wonderful designs some of the other dolls had like, the ancient greece one or the irland one. she just seems kind of plain, and her eyes seem to dazed.

Barbie Fan - England owner
This Barbie is very well made.I do have a few complaints.The dress is sewn on which means that it can't be changed unless you cut the threads holding the back together.If there is a seamstress in your family, this is fine to do since the back is hemmed, meaning that snaps or hooks and eyes can be sewn on.My other complaint is that her arms are bent at an almost 90 degree angle, permanently.

Reviews (6)

Princess ofthe Danish Court or Cinderella?
I found this particular princess looked similar to the Disney version of Cinderella. I do not know if that is either good or bad. I just think that Mattel could have been more creative and designed a doll that doesn't look like Cinderella. She is pretty and worth the money if you like the doll.

Not-quite-fabulous
I've loved Barbies since they first came out, and I still believe dolls are to be PLAYED with, which is why I don't completely love this doll. She has awful hair, and what would it have cost them to throw a few snaps or some velcro on the back of her dress?

On the other hand, the dress IS gorgeous, and the shoes are fabulous. And I love her grave and dignified expression.

Reviews (5)

history toy
interesting to let children learn about peoples who ruled the world centuries away from today and who made history and a cultural basis for our world today

Very awesome HAIR
When I saw this doll on the shelf, I immediatley grabbed two of them. The most remarkable thing about her is that her hair is set in a perfect part, and the braids are proportional to her other features.I have never been able to successfully give pigtail braids to a barbie doll, let alone part her hair without the plugs showing. Because of her unique hair, I am going to use her as a model for my homemade german-inspired dresses. (I also want to make a viking costume based on the doll's outfit to match my own long braids!) As far as technical issues go, it might be noted that her clothes are sewn on, and her helmet is tagged to her head in the back. Her shoes are very loose on her feet.She cannot be posed in a sitting position while wearing the breatplate. She was meant to be a display doll in standing position. I would not give this doll to children- it was obvious to me that she was made for the interested teen or collector. In conclusion, I am very glad I bought two of her because now I can undress one of them. Heck, if I had the money I would buy three- one to keep in the box, one to "play with" and one to put on display!

Reviews (2)

KIMONO EDUCATION
This is the first American toy company who didn't make the kimono look like a T'ang period Chinese dress. In which many American Companies do in which shows their lack of education in that department. This kimono is actually a kimono. Different kimono are classified by the type of sleeve on it. In this case this kimono is called a "furisode" (furi- blowing/flowing sode- sleeve) that is still worn by unwed girls/young women today for formal functions. Now since she is going to a public garden and wearing furisode. That means it's New Years or to view the blossoming of cherry or plum blossoms at the beginning of Spring. In which is a formal event. Only during the Meiji Period that the women of the Imperial Family wore Junihitoe on a daily basis. Only time the junihitoe is worn today is during the coronation of a new emperor or the wedding of the emperor or crown prince.

Nice, But More of the Same...
I own two previous Japanese Barbies that also wear traditional kimonos:A "Doll of the World" Japanese Doll that was made around 1996 or 1997; and the New Year's "Oshogatsu" Barbie from 1994 (I think), that was originally produced for sale in Japan only.This new "Princess of Japan" is equal in quality to these older dolls, but there's nothing outstanding about "Princess" in its own right.

Since the doll is mass-produced, the designs on Barbie's kimono are printed (with a rather dull finish), rather than embroidered or brocaded (as would be the case with a real kimono).Of course, to create such designs in an authentic manner would triple or quadruple the price of the doll.You may recognize Barbie's face on the doll; for the past several years Mattel has used this mold repeatedly on many "collectors" dolls to depict Barbies of various ethnicities.I liked it originally, but I've seen it way too many times now!I didn't care for the extremely pale face, either

What we think of today as the kimono is really the final development of centuries of traditional Japanese clothing.There were many other styles of dress available to Japanese women prior to the 20th century; I wish the doll's designers would have chosen one of those alternate outfits (read Liza Dalby's infomative book, "Kimono" for more historical info).

In fact, on the back of "Princess of Japan's" box is a description and illustration of one of those earlier garments, called a "junihitoe" or "twelve layer dress," a rather beatiful and elaborate garment that is still worn today by female members of the Japanese royal family during certain formal occasions.I wish Barbie was wearing one of those!

Reviews (3)

She is GORGEOUS!
Pictures do not do this doll justice.The details and workmanship, and the unique colours make this one of my favourite Barbies and the best of the flower series by far.

The doll has one of the most beautiful faces for a Barbie, and her serene smile, just seems perfect for the delicate flower.
The pictures are stunning, but nothing compared with the beautiful doll out of the box. A Collectors must.

The orchid Barbie
This a one of the most pretty Barbies I have ever seenand I would simply love to own one. If you don't know whether to buy one and are reading this. BUY ONE. It is definatly worth every penny!

Reviews (5)

A nice collectors doll...not a toy
This doll is a great collectors doll,i keep mine in the box and leave it in my doll house.
it's not a good doll to play with.
she's very pretty!

Karen Johnson "A Barbie Collector From Way Back"
This is one of the most beautiful Holiday Barbie Dolls; and I have them all.I love the way mattel is packaging their limited additions.I love to display my collection in my home and this way I can put her on a shelf or put her in my display cases.If you are a collector you should try and get this one. It is not really a doll to play with unless you buy two, but I love looking at her and when I have company they love looking at my collection.

Reviews (4)

Brazilian Barbie!!
This doll is amazing! Her hair, makeup and dress are SSOOOO cool! Well, for me, the most significant thing is that her story, written in the box, tells that she is a brazilian model, from Rio ( a carioca, as we say...), and the beach behind her is a real beach from here, the one in Leblon neighbourhood. Unfortunatelly, when she is saying goodbye to her friends, she says "Adíos", and that's spanish. Here we speak portuguese, and would say "tchau". But she's awesome anymay.

Unbelievably gorgeous!
I just bought this doll and she is even more beautiful than in the pictures!It amazes me how Mattel keeps making unique and beautiful Barbie dolls.Just when I think that there's no possible way they could design a Barbie doll that's more gorgeous than the last, they prove me wrong.I can't stop staring at Exotic Beauty!She's pure elegance!

Asin: B00009ZVIY
Sales Rank: 47128