Monday, 10th April 2006 (3670 views)

Karen Carson, from Michigan City, IN, has created a new collectible doll resembling the late pope, John Paul II, which comes complete with a gold-plated papal staff, pectoral cross and a gold ring.

The doll itself is made of vinyl and stands 17 inches high, with a pewter cross plated in gold, the ring on his right hand and the papal staff, or crosier, in his left.

The model's designer, Ms Carson, said she first decided to produce the doll having visited Rome for Easter Mass and wanted to buy some memorabilia, only to find no Pope models were available to buy.

Upon her return to the US, she did some market research among the wider community, particularly the Pope's fellow native Poles in Chicago, to see if the proposal would be financially viable.

"I got smart input as to the size of the doll and what doll collectors would appreciate most in terms of materials and clothing," Ms Carson told the Michigan City News Despatch.

"At first it was tough. We had some hoops to go through [but] it was a fun project. I had a lot of good, hard workers," she added.

The replica dolls of the 263rd Papal Father will cost $225 and observers have indicated that the doll is "of a good likeness" and "very tasteful".

 

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