Is this a Smurf?
Trolls. Trolls have impish smiles, big ears and crazy wild hair... some may even have blue hair but these adorable little guys are not Smurfs. Yes, both Smurfs and Trolls are small, cute and elf-like - but they are entirely different creatures! Smurfs have blue-skin and wear white hats and pants, whereas, Trolls have beige-skin, wear a variety of clothing styles and have super big hair! Many different brands of trolls (including Dam, Russ, TNT, Nyform, Norfin, Reisler, Uneeda Wishniks and Playmates to name a few) have been made over the years. In fact, you have probably come across more than a few trolls made by Russ (see photo) and it is the Russ trolls that most people seem to mistake for Smurfs.
The History of Trolls - Some of the most collectible trolls are made by DAM. It was Thomas Dam and family who first created troll dolls or "dam things" back in the 1950's but it wasn't until the 1960's when trolls hit their peak in popularity. And with this popularity many different manufacturers introduced more trolls into the marketplace. The popularity of trolls has ebbed and flowed over the years with a recent resurgence taking place alongside many other 1980s toys. Trolls are said to bring good luck and many "lucky" collectors enjoy collecting a wide variety of trolls including vintage and more modern troll items.
Did you know? The most valuable and rarest trolls include: animal trolls (trolls that resemble animals like a cat, lion, mouse, monkey or giraffe etc...), two-headed trolls, moon trolls, black trolls, and vintage Dam trolls (especially the large ones over 12" tall). |
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