Florida natives who are serious doll collectors keep their treasures behind glass and only take them out to clean the cabinet or give an interested guest a closer look. Sometimes people find great buys that are not in excellent condition. It can be very costly to take an antique to a professional restorer, so sometimes they decide to do the work themselves. Antique repair FL collectors handle on their own is usually of the cosmetic variety.
It is not unusual to see an old doll with dirty, matted or tangled hair. Before you attempt to wash the wig, you should find what it is made of. Synthetic hair can be shampooed using baby shampoo or some other gentle shampoo. You can even use fabric softener. It's important not to get the cap wet though because that can shrink it. You don't want to get the doll wet either.
If the doll's hair is tangled, you can use a pet comb or a flea comb to fix it. This is true for synthetic wigs, but you may need a tapestry needle or hatpin to pin comb a wig made of mohair. This is the easiest way to fluff up curls and separate them as well. If the wig needs a lot of work, sectioning pieces off and working from the bottom up can make the job manageable.
Renaissance wax is great for dolls with cloudy eyes. Machine and clock oil are also effective. Composition dolls should not come in contact with vegetable oil, and keeping any oil from the other surfaces of these dolls is recommended. It can damage the paint. Nail polish is an option for dolls with cloudy eyes, but it must be done carefully.
Orvus soap is inexpensive and a great way to clean bisque dolls. You can find it in feed stores and tack supply houses. Using Renaissance wax is another excellent way to clean bisque and composition dolls. This is the same wax museums use to conserve their collections. You may have to look online for a restoration supply store to get the wax, but it's worth it.
Air dry modeling compound can be used to fill in missing or damaged areas of the doll. This will work unless a doll is missing major parts, like an arm or a leg. Gourd artists like this compound because it doesn't shrink. You should be able to find it at art supply stores, especially the ones frequented by gourd artists.
Painting after replacing the pieces is necessary, but tricky. You only want to apply the paint to the area you replaced, not the whole doll. Professionals who restore dolls stress the importance of using some kind of barrier, so the paint can be removed at a later date. That way it won't permanently affect the doll.
Collecting dolls can be a lot of fun. You don't have to spend tons of money on them either. Finding one that needs some tender loving care is one way to make the hobby special.
It is not unusual to see an old doll with dirty, matted or tangled hair. Before you attempt to wash the wig, you should find what it is made of. Synthetic hair can be shampooed using baby shampoo or some other gentle shampoo. You can even use fabric softener. It's important not to get the cap wet though because that can shrink it. You don't want to get the doll wet either.
If the doll's hair is tangled, you can use a pet comb or a flea comb to fix it. This is true for synthetic wigs, but you may need a tapestry needle or hatpin to pin comb a wig made of mohair. This is the easiest way to fluff up curls and separate them as well. If the wig needs a lot of work, sectioning pieces off and working from the bottom up can make the job manageable.
Renaissance wax is great for dolls with cloudy eyes. Machine and clock oil are also effective. Composition dolls should not come in contact with vegetable oil, and keeping any oil from the other surfaces of these dolls is recommended. It can damage the paint. Nail polish is an option for dolls with cloudy eyes, but it must be done carefully.
Orvus soap is inexpensive and a great way to clean bisque dolls. You can find it in feed stores and tack supply houses. Using Renaissance wax is another excellent way to clean bisque and composition dolls. This is the same wax museums use to conserve their collections. You may have to look online for a restoration supply store to get the wax, but it's worth it.
Air dry modeling compound can be used to fill in missing or damaged areas of the doll. This will work unless a doll is missing major parts, like an arm or a leg. Gourd artists like this compound because it doesn't shrink. You should be able to find it at art supply stores, especially the ones frequented by gourd artists.
Painting after replacing the pieces is necessary, but tricky. You only want to apply the paint to the area you replaced, not the whole doll. Professionals who restore dolls stress the importance of using some kind of barrier, so the paint can be removed at a later date. That way it won't permanently affect the doll.
Collecting dolls can be a lot of fun. You don't have to spend tons of money on them either. Finding one that needs some tender loving care is one way to make the hobby special.
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