Doppelgangers are bad news. Various folklore tell of an instant death upon seeing your double, or at the very least, a bit of bad luck will follow. Unless they're made of vinyl, that is. These doppelgangers by Anton Ginzburg and Kidrobot were delightful to gaze upon. The wee and colorful ghosts have a history that goes beyond their 2007 release onto shelves. In 2006, New York based artist Ginzburg revealed an installation piece at  the 1st Moscow Biennial of Contemporary Art featuring three stackable ghosts. Kidrobot saw potential in scaling the sculpture down and casting it in vinyl. After less than a year, art collectors and designer toy fans could bring Ginzburg's amazing work into their own home.

The original Totem Doppelganger was released in white, black, and pink. Each ghost measured 3 inches tall and could be stacked vertically or displayed horizontally. Plus, the pink version had a trick off its sleeve: Flip off the lights and the three ghosts would glow in the dark. With a very reasonable price of $20 per set, the Totem Doppelganger was a hit, and enough of a hit to warrant another series.

In the summer of 2009, Kidrobot revealed the miniTotem Doppelganger series. The ghosts had been shrunken down to an adorable 1.75 inches, cast in a rainbow of colors, and packed in blindboxes. 12 vibrant colorways were available and two chases - transparent and GID - meant there was plenty of collecting and stacking to do. Display them ROYGBIV style or recreate a Dragon Quest stack of green, orange, and blue Doppelgangers - it was up to you.

Sadly, the miniTotem series was Ginburg's final foray into the world of art toys. However, the toys are somewhat readily available. You might not find the exact colorway you're looking for, but there are a handful of them online. Expect to pay about $30 for the original Totem Doppelganger 3-pack or between $10 and $15 per miniTotem.

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