The  resin dolls of Charles Stephan are unlike any other BJDs. Each doll he creates is derived  from his unique imagination. Charles had no formal art training, but he grew up in an artistic family.  His grandfather was a painter and illustrator, and his grandmother also painted and wrote poetry. Charles began creating art from an early age. As a child, Charles loved to sculpt small figures in clay that he then painted. He often made animals, gnomes, and trolls. “I used to spend many hours catching butterflies, ladybugs, caterpillars, tadpoles, salamanders, and tiny frogs, and wanted to hold these as pets or keep these in little jars. My two elder sisters Joan and Linda often didn’t approve of this, and told me I was mean… When I got a little older, from let’s say 8 years of age, I remember sculpting little fairy-tale-like creatures and putting those in glass jars. My grandma loved these and kept one of those for years in her cabinet; it was one made with tiny gnomes in it.”

In 2007, Charles discovered Asian BJDs and was immediately drawn to the tiny anthro dolls that were only just becoming available.  As a sculptor, Charles was fond of creating pig figures, and he wanted to create an anthro doll based on a pig. He contacted various BJD manufacturers with his concept. “ElfDoll was just one of many Korean BJD companies that I contacted back in Spring 2007.  They were the ones that were really serious about the concept from the start, and they saw the potential in my idea of creating a piggy anthropomorphic BJD.”  The  new dolls were a joint project; Charles created the design and story for the new doll, and the doll artist Rainman sculpted her.  The collaboration resulted in the highly successful doll series Alice Cherry Blossom.

In autumn 2008, Charles opened his own doll and toy company, Charles’ Creature Cabinet.  The Netherlands-based company sells unique dolls and figures through a whimsical website.  The first offerings from the company were a series of dolls based on a story created by Charles and his sister Joan.  ”My sister Joan and I started working on a fairytale called ‘The Whisper Wood’ (she wrote and I made the drawings) for her and my children, about 12 years ago. The original story focused on ‘growing up and living in-between two worlds’ because of Joan’s and my ethnic background (our parents are both born in Indonesia, but we, the children were all born and raised in The Netherlands), and also for our own children, because sadly they all had to grow up in ‘broken’ homes – with ‘two homes’ because of divorced parents.”  Joan died in 2005 before they were able to finish the book.  The Woodlings became a tribute to Charles’ sister.  The first dolls produced were 11 cm. Yoshi and 5 cm. Boneka Kayu. They have since been joined by 11 cm. Deer Faith, and the 8 cm. Woodling Baby Faun Quads; Issa, Jemmy, Lena, and Kimbo.

Recently, a new series of tiny figures was introduced called Odoroki Kyabinetto, ‘Cabinet of Wonders’. The series will consist of mythical tiny creatures from the Victorian era.Their inspiration came from the tiny figures in jars that Charles created as a boy.  A soon-to-be-released new doll  has a similar origin.”We are planning to release Fidelia’s Secret – The Firefly Faerie two weeks from now between March 18 and April 1. It will be 13 cm., just slightly bigger than our biggest CCC dolls.  It will be an Exclusive Edition ‘for a limited time available only’, so not limited in numbers. Fidelia has a secret magical feature, it’s kind of a surprise which yet has to be discovered by the future owner. Also our outfit designer, Lin Murasaki Designs, is working on a very special, rather seductively themed outfit (picture a visual of singer Sheila E’s Glamorous Life in your mind…). Ever since Hameda Yeung, our web designer, put the little gimmick on our main page of the firefly/faerie in the jar, I’ve been wanting to make it in 3D. After pondering about a suitable name, I came up with Fidelia, an old Victorian women’s name…and because we thought up the ‘magical surprise feature’ Fidelia’s Secret came to mind. (My wife automatically thought of that famous lingerie chain…so that’s why I started playing around in my head with the sexy outfit!)”

The dolls of Charles’ Creature Cabinet have accessories and outfits designed by Charles’ sister Linda. “Lin Murasaki Designs is the one-woman, hand-made, ball-jointed doll clothing company, also based in The Netherlands, of my sister Linda. I’m very happy that she agreed to work with me and I am very proud of her, and of course, I love her work. She is a hard working single mum and practically solely raises her 10 year old daughter Kimberley. To my grandmother’s (mother’s side) great pride and joy,  Linda was always knitting and sewing from a young age. (When we were young), I also remember often asking her special requests to make me this or that item for a creature or character I thought up.”

Recently, Charles has received special recognition for his work. He currently has a solo exhibition in Rotterdam City at Designer Toy store  Fa Nieuwenhuyzen until March 28, 2009. He also has been chosen as one of three finalists for the Dabida Doll Award. Charles will also be special guest at the GoGaDoll BJD convention. “I received an invitation to attend as Guest of Honor some months ago from a very nice lady called Kelly, whom I met last year for the first time in person at Dollectable. She is the driving force behind the previous Dollectable Cons and the Golden Gate Doll event as well. At the upcoming GoGaDoll event, I’ve heard from Kelly that I will be playing an important part for the entire con and a that I have a part to play in the opening and closing ceremonies, and of course I will bring my CCC Woodlings collection for display.”

There are more releases already being developed for the future. “This Summer we have a very special anthropomorphic bjd release planned and in Fall 2009 we’re planning to release the final closing piece of The Woodlings series: Noanie Autumn. In fact the whole Woodlings line is very personal and dear to me, and the fall-release will be extra special and emotional, because Joan passed away in her favorite season (October 2005), hence the name ‘Noanie Autumn’.  In between the ball-jointed doll releases, we also might be expanding the Cabinet of Wonders (tiny resin art toys/figurines) line if the audience likes these.” The products of the company will continue to lean toward the diminutive.  ”I guess I like tiny-sized dolls so much because it’s like these tinies are ‘real come-to-life’ faeries – like little people with everything in scale… This also comes from my big love of fantasy and fairy and folk tales. A handy thing about this is that it is also a big plus that for shows etc… I don’t have to bring very large and heavy boxes! The customer can also easily bring his/her doll everywhere without any problems. Oh yes, definitely I would love to go bigger at some point, but mainly for fun since “tiny and micro bjd size” is CCC’s trademark. If anything, I know I’d make my sister Linda very happy with a larger scaled doll line!”

Creating a small business is risky, but with the current state of the world economy, it is especially difficult. “Starting a company back in September 2008 – with the current bad state of the world’s economy, hasn’t been easy. It’s hard work, and I gladly do a lot of the work myself – but without the love, support, work, and believing in me, of the following people I wouldn’t be where I am today. My friends and family, the CCC Team; Donny, Hameda, Linda, Byron and Tara. Also special thanks to Annelize Bos (Triskel Fantasy Shop) and to Miriam Bos (Sweetly Twisted), Marcia and Joyce Waterreus (Think Pink!), the people of Den of Angels and other bjd forums, the people of BJDCollectasy, and everyone else I forgot to mention here. Last but certainly not least a very special thanks to our customers and to my fans, without you there would not have been a Charles’ Creature Cabinet, a heartfelt thank you!”

Charles’ Creature Cabinet – Doll and Toy Company of Charles Stephan

Charles Stephan Gallery Album