Hobbies And Interests
Description
Bobbleheads have an often-oversized head attached to the body by a spring. A slight tap will set the head nodding. Bobbleheads are used in marketing and are also sold as ornaments or collectibles.
Subjects
Bobbleheads made to resemble sports figures are the most common. Other famous bobbleheads include the Taco Bell dog, the Beatles and cartoon characters such as Donald Duck and Betty Boop.
History
An early mention of "bobbleheads" is in Nikolai Gogol's 1842 short story "The Overcoat." Despite other appearances, bobbleheads' heyday was in the 1960s when Major League Baseball teams produced dolls of their players.
Materials
Early bobbleheads were made from papier mache, followed by ceramics. Modern bobbleheads are usually made from plastic or resin.
Collectibility
The Beatles bobblehead set sells for $800 at Bobhead.com. Other vintage models also sell for $50 or more. From the late 20th century, bobbleheads have regained popularity as a collectible and are produced in hundreds of models.