Silkstone gave Barbie Fashion Model Collection dolls their dense, porcelain-like feel.
Mattel used the term Silkstone for a dense material developed for collector dolls. It was not actual porcelain, although the weight and smooth surface were intended to evoke the feel of vintage porcelain fashion dolls.
The material became strongly associated with the Barbie Fashion Model Collection, which began in 2000. Those dolls generally emphasized couture-inspired clothing, carefully finished accessories, and display value rather than ordinary children’s play.
Collectors sometimes call Silkstone dolls “porcelain Barbies,” but that wording is not technically accurate. The dolls were made from Mattel’s proprietary material rather than fired ceramic.