INTRODUCTION TO DOLLS PRAMS, DOLLS BUGGIES, DOLLS STROLLERS, DOLLS PUSHCHAIRS
I have been a doll victorian doll's victorian dolls wooden doll's pram wooden dolls buggy collector for many years and collect all types of doll wooden dolls pram wooden toy pram you and me darla baby doll you and me doll from bisque to the early vinyl's. It is a fascinating hobby and one of the largest collecting fields in the world. What is the appeal? Maybe it is the chance to learn about the playthings and fashions of past times or maybe it is just an indulgence to the child within us all. Whatever your reason for buying your first doll I can guarantee it will be just the start of a lifetimes interest in the subject silver cross dolls pram accessories silver cross dolls pram bag silver cross dolls pram set silver cross dolls pram tray silver cross dolls pram uk.
This site has been created to share my experiences and my collection with other doll lovers/collectors. Have a browse, silver cross dolls pushchair silver cross dolls twin buggy silver cross sleepover dolls pram silver cross toy pram silver cross xt doll's pram silver cross xt doll's pushchair and use the forum to add any comments or to ask a question. The site will be updated regularly with different dolls silver cross xt dolls pram silver cross xt dolls pushchair silvercross doll pram silvercross doll's pram silvercross doll's pushchair silvercross dolls pram silvercross dolls pushchair toy double pram toy pram toy pram set toy pram sets toy pram ukbeing shown and described.
The best place to start is at the beginning....
A BRIEF HISTORY OF DOLLS PRAMS, DOLLS BUGGIES, DOLLS STROLLERS, DOLLS PUSHCHAIRS
Dolls have been around for thousands of years. Museums all over the world hold evidence of this with early examples of dolls made from clay and woodpram and toy centre pram doll pram doll's pram dolls roby doll pram silver cross compact dolls pram silver cross doll pram silver cross doll's. Whether these were originally intended as playthings is not always clear and certainly when the first wax 'dolls' were produced in the 16th century they were for religious purposes. It is also worth noting that the first 'real dolls' were made for the amusement of adults and not children. Over the centuries dolls wicker dolls pram wooden doll pram wooden doll's buggyhave been made from many materials such as wood, china, wax, papier-mâché, celluloid, cloth or from combinations of wax over papier-mâché or wax over composition.
The French were the first to produce bisque dolls silver cross doll's buggy silver cross doll's pram silver cross doll's pram accessories silver cross doll's pram bag silver cross doll's pram set, with those produced by Jumeau being the most famous and the most sought after. Germany soon followed them into production and though never quite reaching the popularity of the french had some fine doll makers. silver cross dolls silver cross dolls buggy silver cross dolls pram
From Armand Marseilles, who maybe was not the best maker but was certainly the most prolific to J. D Kestner who produced dolls of such good quality he became known as the 'German Jumeau'.
Composition dolls were later produced by many of the famous companies and also by many unknown companies, it being a cheaper and more robust material. This method of making dolls was phased out by the late 40's when an even better material for doll making was discovered, cellulose acetate or what collectors refer to as 'hard plastic'. Many examples of these dolls have survived in excellent condition , but sadly many of the makers are no longer in business.
Vinyl was the natural progression from hard plastic and some of the early vinyl dolls are now avidly collected. The fashion dolls such as Barbie and Sindy silver cross doll's pram tray silver cross doll's pram uk silver cross doll's pushchair silver cross doll's twin buggy are an immensely popular collecting field. Vinyl dolls are of course still in production today and one wonders which of them will form the basis for doll collections in the future.
RESTORATION OF DOLLS PRAMS, DOLLS BUGGIES, DOLLS STROLLERS, DOLLS PUSHCHAIRS
Restoring a doll to as near its original condition as possible is very rewarding though any extensive or difficult work should be left to the experts, there are many doll restorers around the country. Simple jobs can be carried out however without too much difficulty, and there are books which will show you how to do such jobs as stringing, making doll wigs etc. Eyelashes, teeth, wigs and shoes can all be purchased from specialist shops selling doll making equipment.
CLEANING
Bisque dolls and heads can be cleaned with damp cotton wool, with cotton buds being used to carefully clean around the eyes, nose and mouth. Never wash composition dolls or doll bodies as the thin layer of varnish will be removed and you will end up with a horrible bleached effect.If the doll is very dirty cleaning with pieces of soft bread will sometimes help.
Hard plastic and vinyl dolls can be washed using water and a mild detergent. Difficult to remove stains such as ink can usually be removed by using oxy 10, the acne treatment. Be cautious though as it can also remove lip colour etc. You will need to be patient as this treatment can take several goes to work. I have sparingly used a cream cleanser with success on some stains, but this is at your own risk.
Saran hair, the wiry nylon hair that is found on vinyl dolls from the 50's and 60's can be washed with a mild detergent and often benefits from a rinse in hair conditioner.
Mohair wigs can be gently washed in a very mild detergent, but there is always a risk of them disintegrating so unless they are in a really bad way it is probably better to leave them alone. Always be very careful that water does not enter the dolls body as it can cause lots of problems.
To style a dolls hair pipe cleaners make good doll sized curlers and doll sized hair grips and slides add the finishing touch.
CLOTHING DOLLS PRAMS, DOLLS BUGGIES, DOLLS STROLLERS, DOLLS PUSHCHAIRS
Most mamas and papas twin dolls buggy you come across will sadly not be in their original clothes. The passage of time means many articles of clothing being lost or damaged or even just disintegrating. It is worth seeking out contemporary clothes for your dolls or even making them. There are many good books out today which show you how to make vintage doll clothes both sewn and knitted. It is also worth visiting doll fairs, flea markets and even car boot sales where you will be able to pick up some lovely vintage clothes. You can also find pieces of old material and lace which can be used for making clothes.
When buying an old item of clothing it is not always possible to identify which make of doll it was meant for. There are however some clues in the fastenings. Pedigree clothes can be identified by the metal 'pressed in' poppers. Rosebud had braid loops, and BND clothes were fastened with large white buttons. Some clothes of course were tagged such as 'Faerie Glen'.
Doll shoes are another thing it is worth hunting for. It is still fairly easy to come across the marked Cinderella shoes, but also keep an eye out for marked Pedigree or Roddy shoes.
ACCESSORIES FOR DOLLS PRAMS, DOLLS BUGGIES, DOLLS STROLLERS, DOLLS PUSHCHAIRS
Accessories can enhance your doll collection. Try to match up the right accessory with the right doll. A couple of hard plastic dolls from the 50's sat in a dolls pram, also from the 50's can make a nice focal point to your collection. Also old toys, rattles, small teddy's, bags etc can add interest. Keep an eye out at doll fairs and car boot sales for any miniature items you can use. Try and match the correct clothing to the doll, and also hunt out vintage ribbon and doll sized jewellery items. Items of vintage clothing are not too difficult to find and you may be lucky to find tagged items or marked shoes.
DISPLAYING YOUR COLLECTION OF DOLLS PRAMS, DOLLS BUGGIES, DOLLS STROLLERS, DOLLS PUSHCHAIRS
The first choice when displaying your collection 3 wheel dolls buggy 3 wheel dolls pushchair antique dolls baby doll pram barbie dolls chic tandem dolls pushchair children’s toy pram would be a glass cabinet, especially for your more expensive dolls. It protects them from dust and accidental breakages. Make sure the cabinet is situated away from sources of heat and well away from a window where the sun can damage dolls doll and pram doll pram doll pram set doll pram sets doll pram uk doll's 3 wheeler buggy doll's buggy doll's double buggy doll's double pram and their clothing. It is also better to keep them in as even a temperature as possible as extremes can damage composition dolls in particular.
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Dolls not displayed in a cabinet can be displayed in many ways, and is usually a matter of personal taste. Items such as prams, pushchairs, cots etc can be used effectively especially if they are from the same era as the doll. Scour flea markets and car boot sales for doll sized chairs and tables and create a dolls 'tea party' with of course the essential dolls tea set.
A quick word about storing your dolls. Always store dolls doll buggy doll pram doll pushchair doll's buggy doll's pram doll's pushchair dolls buggy dolls pram dolls pushchair present for my daughter present for my granddaughter
wrapped in non-acetate tissue, making sure it is not coloured, as the colour will bleed and stain your doll. Keep them stored in as even a temperature as possible and check them occasionally. Bisque dolls should have the head cavity filled to protect the eye mechanism, this is especially important if transporting them.
BUYING DOLLS PRAMS, DOLLS BUGGIES, DOLLS STROLLERS, DOLLS PUSHCHAIRS
If you are going to spend a great deal of money on an antique doll then it makes sense to buy from a doll dealer who has some expertise in dolls double pushchair dolls pram dolls pram accessories dolls pram pushchair dolls pram set dolls pram sets dolls pram uk dolls pushchair the subject and also has a reputation to protect so can probably be relied on to point out any flaws and also tell you something about the doll itself dolls pushchair uk dolls tandem buggy dolls tandem pushchair dolls tandem pushchairs double buggy for dolls. If you have some knowledge then auctions can be an excellent way of buying. Make sure you examine any intended purchase carefully. Check the head for cracks, using a small torch if possible, and don't forget to look inside the head. Check the head and body belong together, and check for any flaws, kiln dust in the glaze, cheek rubs, crazing of the body, missing, doll's pram sets doll's pram uk doll's pushchair doll's pushchair uk doll's tandem buggy doll's tandem pushchair doll's tandem pushchairs fingers etc. If you still want the doll then decide what you are willing to pay, and stick to it. It is so easy to get carried away when bidding. If you purchase through an internet auction ask all the questions you can before you bid, and also find out the postage and packing costs.
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can be bought from various sources including auctions, and doll fairs. You may even be lucky to find one at a local flea market or car boot sale. Sometimes these are in a sad state, but don't automatically dismiss them as a little time and work spent on cleaning and redressing is well worth while, and can result in a nice vintage doll to add to your collection.
