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Bobbleheads

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    Learn More About Bobbleheads

    Bobbleheads—also known as nodders and wobblers—are fun, collectible figurines with oversized heads that nod and wobble when touched or moved. From a cute puppy giving you a slow nod on a car dashboard to a full roster of sports bobbleheads lining the walls of an entertainment room, bobbleheads can decorate just about any space you want them to. Collect iconic individuals or make a custom bobblehead of yourself, friends, and family.

    The bobbleheads of today had their heyday during the 1960s sports scene, but nodding figures are documented in Europe as far back as the 1700s. Chinese nodding plaster figures are depicted in the background of painter Johann Zoffany’s 1765 portrait of Queen Charlotte, and similar figures are among the most valuable bobbleheads today. The first written reference is in the 1942 novel The Overcoat by Nikolai Gogol, in which a character’s neck is compared to a plastic, nodding animal. Ceramic animal bobbleheads were produced in Germany and became the precursor to the popular 1960s versions.

    Harkening back to the 1960s can be a great nostalgic trip for seasoned sports fans, but for those looking to use bobbleheads in the modern age, personalized bobbleheads offer a few ideas to play with:


    • Provide your bridesmaids and groomsmen with custom wedding bobbleheads of you and your fiancée, or turn the whole wedding party into bobbles to make a prized, collectible set.
    • Add bobbleheads to a wedding cake for a fun take on traditional toppers.
    • Make a collection of personalized bobbleheads for your amateur sports league or book club. Double down with special editions for when members reach milestones.
    • Pets—both current and past—can live on as pet bobbleheads as a nice memento for animal lovers.
    • Use the same person’s face but change the clothing or uniform for an annual gift that grows with time.
    • Celebrate someone’s promotion at work with a dignified bobblehead dressed in their new uniform to keep on a desk.
    • Honor a recent graduate with a custom bobblehead of them in their grad gown and cap or depicting their newly chosen profession.
    • Reward a significant milestone like closing a major deal or nailing a performance with engravings on a custom bobblehead’s base.

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    In order to give you the best experience, we use cookies and similar technologies for performance, analytics, personalization, advertising, and to help our site function. Want to know more? Read our Cookie Policy. You can change your preferences any time in your Privacy Settings.