In the mid -1940's,the young ambitious duo Ruth and Elliot Handler,owned a company thatmade wooden pictures frames. It was in 1945 that Ruth and Elliot Handler joined with their closefriend Harold Mattson to form a company that would be known for the most famous and successfuldoll ever created. This company would be named MATTEL,MATT for Mattson,and EL for Elliot'.
In the mid - 1950's,while visiting Switzerland,Ruth Handler purchased a German Lilli doll.
Lilli was a shapely2,pretty fashion doll first made in 1955. She was originally fashioned after afamous cartoon character in the West German Newsletter,Build.
Lilli is the doll that would inspire Ruth Handler to design the Barbie doll. With the help of hertechnicians and engineers at Mattel,Barbie was born. Ruth then hired Charlotte Johnson,a fashiondesigner,to create Barbie's wardrobe. It was in 1958 that the patent for Barbie was obtained. Thiswould be a fashion doll unhke any of her time. She would be long limbed,shapely,beautiful,and only11.5 inches tall. Ruth and Elliot would name their new fashion doll after their own daughter,Barbie3.
In 1959,the Barbie doll would make her way to the New York Toy Show and receive a coolreception from the toy buyers.
Barbie has undergone a lot of changes over the years and has managed to keep up with currenttrends in hairstyles,makeup and clothing. She is a reflection of the history of fashion since herintroduction to the toy market.
Barbie has a universal appeal and collectors both young and old enjoy time spent and memoriesmade with their dolls.
注释：
1.This company would be named MATTEL,MATT for Mattson,and EL for Elliot.这家公司命名为MATTEL(麦特尔)，MATT代表麦特森(Mattson) ,EL代表埃利奥特(Elliot)。
2.shapely:是形容词，这一点特别提请注意。She has shapely legs.她大腿的线条很美。
3. Ruth and Elliot would name their new fashion doll after their own daughter,Barbie. Ruth和Elliot以自己女儿的名字芭比为他们新型的娃娃命名。name after:用……的名字做名字。
