‘Naberhood’ party

No more Naber Kids were born after 2005, but collectors still cherish the character dolls.

MATTHEW BECK

Harald Naber has recently been working in his Homosassa studio on a portrait of a baby he has named Adrian. He hopes to complete the oil painting in time for a collectors’ meeting this weekend at his facility south of Sugarmill Woods.

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MATTHEW BECK

Naber expects some 150 collectors to gather this weekend at his studio.

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“The very first doll was called Big Nuni,” said Harald Naber, creator of Naber Kids. “It’s highly collectible.”

A native of Rothenburg, Germany, Naber seemed to get into creating dolls by chance after relocating to Alaska to become a bush pilot.

“Hunters from the Lower 48 wanted to take back Eskimo dolls to their wives, but there weren’t any,” Naber said.

Using some yellow cedar, reindeer hide and fur, Naber crafted a 14-inch doll that had no arms and legs. He said he was amazed it sold for $30, but it looked so crude the buyer thought it had to be an authentic native piece.

From that small beginning, Naber went into collectible doll production, starting with the Nuni Doll Co. named for Nunivak Island in Alaska, making dolls that looked like Eskimo children. Later, the Naber Kids dolls were produced in 1982 in Homer, Alaska. Molli was the first Naber Kid.

“As much as $3,200 has been paid for Molli,” Naber said.

Jake and Max followed. Through the years, Naber has created 400 doll characters in all races.

In 1984, Naber and his wife, Bette Jo, moved to Homosassa where they made and sold dolls. Bette Jo, who supervised the dolls’ costumes, passed away in 2000.

Naber Kids collectors used to come to Homosassa for conventions. This year, Naber has invited them to attend a Friends of Naber Kids Get-together on Saturday.

“It is not a convention,” Naber said. “It is not commercial, as I don’t make dolls any more. It is a signing party.”

The dolls are autographed. Each collectible has a certificate of authenticity.

Naber will tell about his latest endeavor, which is creating characters he would like to feature in animation movies to protect Alaska’s environment. Musician Bill Rea will sing and play keyboards. Collectors will get to tell stories about their dolls.

“It’s audience participation,” Naber said. “The dolls are more than investments. They have cheered their lives.”

Chronicle reporter Chris Van Ormer can be contacted at (352) 564-2916 or cvanormer@chronicleonline.com.

* WHAT: Friends of Naber Kids Get-together.
* WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday.
* WHERE: Naber Kids studio, 8915. S. Suncoast Blvd., Homosassa.