Sunday, May 7, 2017

A 32" bisque headed doll needs a variety of fixes


This a nice large antique doll made by Armand Marseille. She needs to be restrung and she is missing a forearm.
Her body has some issues. Some are cosmetic and can be left alone.













One issue that needs repairing is a caved in neck socket.
This torso is made from cardboard, a common material used in these bodies. Over the years of being strained by the pressure from the stringing elastic, things often cave in.
It is important, when restringing a doll, not to string it too tight to minimize collapsing structures like this.









The neck socket is cardboard too.
It gets repositioned as much as possible to it's original spot and then a good epoxy is used to keep it there.














Next is filling in the remaining defect with epoxy putty.

















The repair is painted to blend into the old finish.


















Another issue this doll has is a missing chunk from one eyeball. She has most of her eyelashes missing. The eyes still sleep and are in their original mounting plaster.

Cosmetic or structural?

Well, just as I was deciding that this was cosmetic and best left alone, the eye broke further.
I guess this doll was determined to get her eye fixed! Might as well get her some new eyelashes too....






The eye rocker is removed and the pieces are retrieved.
This is the typical look to many antique doll sleep-eyes. Two thin blown-glass eyeballs mounted to a weighted structure. The weight swings back and forth inside the head to make the eyes sleep.











The glass pieces are glued together to reveal the original missing area.
Eye patch done....with new human hair eyelashes and new eyelid wax.




































All back together now and ready to find some clothes....
















A few alterations to some antique children's clothing and she is dressed appropriately for her era.

8 comments:

  1. Can I ask how you did the eyelid wax as I have a doll that needs this done?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yikes....I am just finding comments I have never seen yet....sorry. The eyelid wax is special pink wax that you melt in a little pot and then dunk the eyes into.Scary to do with eyelashes as you get to comb wax out of the lashes if you dunk too far!

      Delete
  2. Where can you buy the eyelid wax?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good question....A nice friend who used to fix dolls gave me the wax I have. You live in the UK?

      Delete
    2. Yes I'm in the UK and just learning to repair dolls.

      Delete
    3. Most folks paint the eyelid pink and then dip the eyes into a colourless wax. The pink wax I have is a couple decades old and will be impossible to replace.

      Delete
  3. Woah!!!what paint did you use for the body??

    ReplyDelete