Doll Repair Before & After
Shirley Temple Restoration
This 27″ Shirley Temple came to me in her original box with her ringlet wig in original set and original button. It was, initially thought that all she needed was repair to a split in the composition near an eye. Upon closer examination it was clear there was more to think about. There was extensive lifting near the nose and around the mouth. I knew as soon as I started to work on her the brittleness of the lifting would chip away. When all the lifting was removed, the majority of her face was involved, which was restored.
Composition Baby – 5 part Body
Made by the zillions, this inexpensive composition American made baby doll is a favorite because of the cute expression and sturdy structure. One of the problems with this type of doll is that, because of the mass production process, the last coat of paint is often thin and wears at the toes and fingers as well as flakes and fades from the face. The owner of this doll (well husband) had this doll restored for his wife’s 75th birthday as it was her childhood favorite as well.
French Fashion Antique Bisque Head Restoration
Measuring 9 1/2 ” around, this lovely French head was worth the effort to restore it. The bisque is a lovely translucent shade and smooth silky texture. The break on this head was from the crown, through the ear, down the cheek to the mouth, exiting on the other side of the mouth, looping to the neck and up back to the crown. These types of restores are tricky because of the curves in the head and also the differences in the colors, with the forehead lighter, darkening toward the cheeks, additional shading near the mouth and then back up to the crown. The application is in several very thin coats to allow the beauty of the porcelain to remain and replicating the several colors in the head.
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ABG (Alt Beck Gottschalk) Bisque Restoration
This antique bisque doll head is probably the worst I have seen in that it was broken in many pieces, with some pieces missing. It had been previously, restored some 20 years ago. It had not been reinforced on the inside and glued with an inappropriate product, so it was now coming apart. The paint used was a heavy acrylic with did not allow the translucent beauty of the head to come through. My photos show the head with and without some of the previous work as well as a completed head.
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1920 Shoulder Plate Composition Baby
Horsman was a large doll company, signing their doll E.I.H, out of New York. The manufactured composition dolls of all types as well as distributed French and German dolls. This painted eye composition baby was made circa 1920. The paint has cracked and lifted excessively on its body as well as the facial decorations had flaked off. Fully restored, this cute baby doll will outlive a couple of more generations of doll appreciation.
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Doll repair and restoration of composition dolls can range from simple repairs to a complete restoration. Simple doll repairs include rebuildingdamaged doll parts, restringing and craze control or repairing body parts like fingers, toes and other broken parts. A major or complete doll restoration can include stripping the old finish, patching and filling, an iris transplant for crystallized, foggy acrylic eyes, wig restoration or replacement and, of course, maybe new doll clothes.
Elaborate Rare Countess Dagmar China Head with Earrings
This lovely rare Countess Dagmar china head warranted repair of her shoulder plate because of her elaborate hair style featuring long rolls of curls, a high coronet of hair and head band, along with pieced ears. The shoulder plate was about half gone and had to be rebuilt as well as painted.
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Paper Mache Child Doll
This Patent Washable doll was made 1880-1915 by F.M. Schilling and other Sonneberg factories. It came from the original owner who wanted her restored so he could pass her on in the family. She had been in a box in pieces for years and had lost her original legs but retained her original (grass stuffed) body, head and arms and clothing. At some point someone had worked on her, painting gesso over her head and arms. To restore her, her original body was covered with 100% cotton muslin with new cloth for the arms and legs. The head, arms and legs were painted to reflect period decoration. A human hair wig was fabricated as well and appropriate period clothing was utilized.
A wonderful PLUS to this doll is that she still had her original blouse and petticoat made of terrific eyelet fabric. The blouse featured drop shoulder sleeves and shell buttons. The slip had a great installed pocket for some treasure to be hidden (maybe an antique penny?). To protect the slip a cotton skirt was fabricated featuring cotton lace and a back skirt for a small bustle affect. The line of the skirt is not full, but straight, reflecting the 1890 styles of Gibson girl fashion.
- Original Pieces for Paper Mache Patent Washable Doll
- BEFORE Paper Mache Patent Washable Doll
- Paper Mache Patent Washable Doll face view
- New muslin over original body with new legs
- Original eyelet blouse with period fashion skirt
- Side View Paper Mache Patent Washable Doll
Invisible Face Restore on Tete Jumeau 10
This lovely Jumeau had a previous head break that had been filled as well as a hairline crack extending from the eye. The previous repair had been done badly and was now unstable, paint flaking and chips in the fill areas.
- BEFORE face view of Tete Jumeau 10. Break is from crown, down forehead, to corner of eye, through cheek, across neck, up neck to crown. Additional hairline from corner of eye toward ear.
- AFTER Tete Jumeau 10
- BEFORE L cheek
- BEFORE Left Side
- AFTER
- BEFORE
- BEFORE
- AFTER
- BEFORE
- BEFORE
- AFTER
- AFTER Forehead
Invisible Restoration on China Head Doll
This lovely china head had a shoulder plate break as well as the head broken from the shoulder plate. An invisible restoration returns this lovely doll back to her original beauty.
- completed invisible restoration of china shoulder plate
- china head shoulder plate broken and chipped
- broken neck portion on china head
- small portion of shoulder plate to attach to broken pieces
- bottom view of 1850 china head
Kestner 148 Antique Doll Shoulder Head Repair
This 1880′s German shoulder head has a leather body. the head was broken in several pieces as well as cracks that needed to be reinforced, filled and painted.
- BEFORE
- BEFORE front view glued back together
- BEFORE back view glued together
- BEFORE side view glued together
- AFTER front view
- AFTER side view
- AFTER back view
- AFTER L side view
Tin Head Doll Repaint with Kidoline Body
This tin head had a partial Kidoline body. The upper arms had to be fabricated and replaced antique bisque lower arms installed, then the body was repainted with several coats to the oilcloth. The head was stripped and repainted. The end result was a lovely restored antique tin head doll!
- BEFORE front view
- AFTER front view
- BEFORE back view
- AFTER back view
- AFTER tin head with head repaint



































































































