Porcelain BJD Samhain

Description

Samhain is a one-of-a-kind 32 cm porcelain art doll by Alena Amicus.
She was created in 2023, with her look completed in early 2024. This is the artist’s very first porcelain BJD, a project that took six months to complete (plus about a month to design her concept).

Creation & Technology

Samhain was crafted using a unique casting method that preserves the internal geometry of the joints. Her joints are unusually elegant for porcelain — delicately engineered to move with natural grace and anatomical harmony, without ever breaking the illusion of a living figure. This allows for smooth, silent movement and, combined with ultra-thin suede lining, provides perfect stability in any pose.

Materials
• Porcelain: Premium Parian porcelain was used for all parts.
• Painting: Her face and full-body blushing are done with overglaze ceramic paints — they will never rub off or fade over time.
• Stringing: She is assembled on a durable elastic cord; hands and feet are attached with hooks on stainless steel bars.

Concept & Outfit

Samhain (from the Celtic festival marking the transition from autumn to winter) embodies the very spirit of the changing seasons. Her dress is adorned with tiny “ice crystals” made of glass microbeads and hand-painted leather leaves in warm autumn tones. Every leaf was sewn on by hand.

The pattern for her dress was created entirely from scratch, with the entire outfit sewn completely by hand — no sewing machine was used.

Her diadem symbolizes winter taking over autumn’s colours. It is handcrafted from 925 sterling silver to the artist’s own design (not intended as a wearable piece of jewellery).

Her wig is made from natural goat hair.

Presentation & Packaging
• Case: Samhain comes in a bespoke leather case by British brand Life of Riley, specially made to order.
• Certificate: A unique stainless-steel card with engraved information about the doll.
• Stand: A lightweight, elegant saddle stand with a clear base is included.

Samhain was exhibited at the London Fashion Doll Festival 2024, where she made her debut presentation.