Gallery of
Doll Restorations
Before
and After Photos
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on the Picture to See a Larger Version
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Schoenhut
- Facial restoration, and light art work touch up
Light
touch up is an acceptable repair, and doesn't adversely affect
the dolls value. Especially when the damage takes away from
the beauty of the doll. This aspect on restoration is noted
in most value books on Schoenhut dolls. This is also a decision
that has to made by the owner of the doll.
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Celluloid
Restoration
This type of restoration is very seldom attempted as most people
feel it is not possible to be done, but as you can see this
family heirloom has been restored to it's original beauty. This
is pain staking work as it has to done in many stages, but once
the celluloid is together again, (one piece) the celluloid is
actually very strong. This type of restoration can be costly,
but in most cases when the doll can not be replaced it is a
necessity to the owner to have this option.
Our
Client's Reaction:
Wonderful news!! I received the doll and she looks great. It
was quite wonderful to receive her. Thank you for all your hard
work and expert efforts. I'm IMPRESSED!! You worked miracles.
Thanks again, Shauna
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Hard
Plastic Buddy Lee Restoration
Buddy Lee was in need of hand cleaning, art touch up, and the
finished sealing process. The clothing was also cleaned, mended
and a few missing items replaced. These items were the hat, scarf
and rope. Once completed he was truly a proud Buddy Lee. |
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Hard
Plastics Doll from the 50's
These dolls are very important to the original little girls that
Lovingly played with them. It is nice to have the opportunity
to have them restored and attired in their original or reproduction
clothing. These dolls play an important role in the history of
dolls from that time period. |
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Shirley
Temple Restoration
This doll was in need of eye repair, wig, and composition restoration.
The eye mechanism was taken out, and just the eye caps replaced.
The wig was chemically cleaned, and styled. The dolls was taken
apart, and all the damage time had taken on Shirley composition
was repaired as new. Then the art work was touched up as needed,
and then the sealing process was done to ensure the same finish
as Shirley originally had. We also had our seamstress make a beautiful
reproduction dress for this wonderful Shirley. The dress was produced
from an original picture using the same type fabrics that were
used on the original dress. She is really a prize for any Shirley
collector. |
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Eye,
wig, and reproduction clothing
This is a good example of how the average doll collector receives
a doll. They will find a beautiful antique doll that does not
look as beautiful as it should, but with proper restoration she
can be as beautiful as the day she was created. As you can see
the eye mechanism has lost its original look, and is loose in
the head. We removed the mohair wig, removed the eye system. Then
we separated the head form the composition body and chemically
cleaned the head, removing old dirt, and wax, but not harming
the original art work. We repaired the missing porcelain teeth
by making duplicate porcelain teeth to match, and re inserted
them. Then we took the original eye system, and reconditioned
it. We then did the waxing of the eye mechanism and re set the
eye bar so the eye bar would open and close as it originally did.
What a wonderful difference. At this point we only had to chemically
clean the original mohair wig , and re style. Our seamstress took
over at this point with suggestion from the owner on likes and
dislikes using original period clothing designs. She now looked,
I'm sure, very much as she would have originally looked the day
a little child fell in love with her for the first time. |
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Sleep & Flirt Eye Mechanism Restoration
This Eye Mechanism repair is rather intimidating, once you look
inside the head you ask yourself. How does this all work in unison?
The eyes sleep as most antique eye mechanisms worked, but if the
doll is moved ever so slightly the eyes move left and right bringing
a smile to the person holding the doll. This must have been ever
so intriguing to the small child holding the doll, and I'm sure
brought a smile to their faces. In order to repair these eye mechanisms
in most cases as in this one they had to be taken out of the head,
and re conditioned. The upper eye covering needed new flesh color,
and had to be reset and adjusted to work as it originally did.
This procedure can be quite taxing as it may have to be repeated
many times before they will work as originally intended. In some
cases new parts have to be made to replace worn or lost parts.
I repaired many eye sets before attempting this type of repair
but feel very comfortable and again blessed that I have the patience
to do this type of restoration. We also chemically cleaned the
mohair wig, and restyled it. We never use water on a mohair wigs
as it will make the wig and cap disintegrate before your eye's.
The wig really made the doll once the restoration to the wig was
completed. |
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Dione
Type, late 1930's
This beloved little doll was obviously played to death by the
little Mother that owned her. Of course time had its hand in the
deterioration of her original beauty also. Most people would discard
a doll in this condition but the original owner would want to
save her to give her to another little Mother to love. This composition
restoration process is done in a series of steps. The first being
grinding and filling major damaged areas. Then it is a matter
of repeating this process until all flaws are gone. At this point
a 3 step sealing process is done and then the art work is completed
using the original picture in conjunction with pictures of the
original art work through informational sources. The final sealing
process gives the doll the original type seal, (look) that the
original doll would have had. Now she is ready to be loved and
cherished once more. |
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Ma
Ma Type doll, Late 1930's
This is a wonderful example of a composition doll that would have
been cherished by the child that owned her.. They were wonderful
play toys and I'm sure accompanied the the little girl through
out her day. The restoration process is simple in that all the
flaws have to be eliminated and get the condition of the composition
back to its original flawless condition. Once this is accomplished
the sealing process and art work would be done and then the doll
would have to be attired in clothing similar to what she would
have worn. This doll also needed dental work, her two front teeth.
Now she is ready to accompany another little girl through out
her day. |
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on the Picture to See a Larger Version
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