About Jan McLean

Jan McLean studied dollmaking in 1983, and initially made reproduction dolls, learning her craft as she taught others. In 1985, the wonderful German doll artist, Hildegard Gunzel visited New Zealand. Her dolls were the most exciting creations Jan had ever seen and inspired her to try sculpting her own. Her first dolls, Chloe and Phoebe were "born" in 1987 and were followed by Poppy and Pansy. It was not until 1991, that Jan McLean's talents were discovered, when she exhibited her dolls for the first time at the great New York Toy Fair. She became an overnight success winning her first DOLLS AWARD OF EXCELLENCE for Pansy.

Jan McLean comes from an artistic background. Her grandmother was a sculptress and her mother was a portrait artist. As a child Jan McLean was given dolls her grandmother made in the 1950's. They had wonderful faces made from fine paper marcher modeled from the faces of children, very like the dolls made in Europe in the 1940's. Jan never forgot the dolls, and while researching her family history, decided to make a doll for her only daughter to be passed down through the generations.

Today, her dolls are widely sought after and receive many international awards placing Jan McLean among the top doll makers in the world. Her limited edition porcelain beauties continue to bewitch and entrance the most discerning art and doll collectors worldwide. "Each has her own cheeky or alluring expression, precocious or demure and innocent, an attitude that exudes personality.