You know the one. That iconic, slightly unsettling, yet somehow adorable image of a troll doll with its neon hair defying gravity and those wide, glassy eyes that seem to follow you across the room. It’s a staple of thrift store bins and 90s nostalgia posts. But here’s the thing: most of what we think we know about these frizzy-haired mascots is just the surface level of a much weirder, more heartwarming story.
Honestly, it didn't start as a multi-billion dollar franchise.
It started with a guy who was flat broke. Thomas Dam, a Danish fisherman and woodcutter, couldn't afford a Christmas gift for his daughter, Lila, back in 1959. So, he did what any desperate, talented dad would do—he carved a doll out of wood. He based it on the trolls from Scandinavian folklore, but instead of the terrifying, bridge-dwelling monsters of legend, he made it... well, cute-ugly.
From Firewood to Fame
The first image of a troll doll wasn't plastic. It was organic, earthy, and had hair made of real Icelandic sheep’s wool. When Lila took it outside, the other kids in the small town of Gjøl went nuts. They all wanted one. Dam realized he had a hit on his hands and started "Dam Things," his toy company.
By the early 60s, these things were everywhere.
They weren't just toys; they were "Good Luck Trolls." The gimmick was simple: rub the hair for good fortune. It sounds silly now, but in the 1960s, everyone from kids to US Presidents was doing it. In 1963, pilot Betty Miller even brought a "Dammit" doll (yes, that was a real brand name) on her historic solo flight across the Pacific. She eventually met JFK, and the troll was right there in the White House.
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Why Your "Vintage" Troll Might Be a Fake
If you’re looking at an image of a troll doll and thinking about digging yours out of the attic to retire early, I have some bad news. Most of the trolls sold in the 60s and 90s weren't actually made by the Dam family.
Because of a clerical error in the original copyright notice, the design fell into the public domain in the United States almost immediately. This triggered a "troll-pocalypse."
- Russ Berrie: These are the ones most of us remember from the 90s. Soft vinyl, colorful hair, and often wearing little outfits.
- Wishniks: Produced by Uneeda, these were the primary competitors in the 60s.
- Treasure Trolls: The ones with the "wishstone" jewels in their bellybuttons.
- Norfin Trolls: These are the "real" ones, licensed by the Dam family.
You can usually spot a real Dam troll by the quality. They have a weight to them. The eyes are often glass rather than painted plastic, and the felt or wool hair feels different than the synthetic "carpet" hair on cheaper knock-offs.
The 90s Fever Dream
The 1990s was a weird time for the image of a troll doll. We went from simple naked dolls to a total commercial explosion. There were Troll pencil toppers, Troll video games, and even Troll-themed clothing.
I remember the pencil toppers vividly. You’d spin the pencil between your palms to make the hair go wild. It was the ultimate fidget toy before fidget toys were a thing.
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But as fast as the fad arrived, it vanished. The market got flooded with low-quality clones, and eventually, the "cute-ugly" look just felt dated. The trolls retreated back into the darkness of garage sales for a couple of decades until DreamWorks stepped in.
The Modern Makeover: DreamWorks and Beyond
In 2013, DreamWorks Animation bought the rights to the brand. They didn't just want the image of a troll doll; they wanted a cinematic universe.
The 2016 Trolls movie changed everything. The "ugly" was mostly scrubbed away, replaced by vibrant colors, felt-like textures, and a heavy dose of musical theater. Poppy and Branch look very little like the original 1959 wood carvings. They have actual noses now, and their proportions are more "Disney-fied."
Collectors are split on this. Some love that the brand stayed alive. Others miss the wrinkled, slightly creepy faces of the "Good Luck" era.
What Makes a Troll Doll Valuable?
If you're hunting for a collector's item, ignore the common Russ dolls. They were produced in the millions. Instead, look for:
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- Animal Trolls: Dam made giraffes, lions, and monkeys that can fetch hundreds of dollars today.
- Size Matters: Trolls over 12 inches tall are rare. If you find a 19-inch vintage Dam troll, you've hit the jackpot.
- Two-Headed Trolls: These are the holy grail for many. They are exactly what they sound like—one body, two heads, double the hair.
Basically, the weirder the image of a troll doll, the more likely it is to be worth something.
Identification Tips for Your Collection
Look at the feet. Most authentic Dam trolls have "DAM" or "Made in Denmark" stamped on the bottom. If the plastic feels brittle and the hair is falling out in clumps, it might be an early 60s rubber model, which is actually more valuable than the 90s vinyl ones, despite the wear.
Check the eyes. Glass eyes are a hallmark of early quality. If they’re just painted on or cheap plastic inserts, it’s probably a 90s mass-market piece.
Honestly, the "weirdness" is the point. Thomas Dam once said that trolls were so ugly you couldn't help but laugh, and when you laugh, luck follows you. That’s a pretty solid philosophy for a toy.
How to Style and Preserve Your Trolls
If you have a collection, don't leave them in direct sunlight. The UV rays will bleach that neon hair faster than you can say "frizz." Use a wide-tooth comb or even just your fingers to style the hair—brushes tend to pull the fibers out of the scalp.
For the vinyl bodies, a damp cloth with a tiny bit of mild soap works wonders. Just stay away from the hair glue. If the hair gets wet, it can lose its "verticality," and a flat-haired troll is just a sad sight.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Stamping: Flip over your old dolls and look for the "DAM" or "Denmark" marks to see if you have an original or a 90s reproduction.
- Audit the Hair: If the hair is matted, use a tiny bit of fabric softener mixed with water in a spray bottle to detangle it without ripping the fibers.
- Join the Community: Look into the "Troll Hole Museum" or specialized Facebook groups; the market for 1960s animal trolls is surprisingly active and can help you appraise your specific image of a troll doll.