Repairing Guides

how to repair bisque doll

by Erin Wuckert Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

Here are some tips for home repair of certain damage types of bisque dolls: Cleaning bisque porcelain

Porcelain

Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating materials, generally including kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between 1,200 and 1,400 °C. The toughness, strength, and translucence of porcelain, relative to other types of pottery, arises mainly from vitrification and the formation of the …

Renaissance Wax

Renaissance Wax

Renaissance Wax is a brand of microcrystalline wax polish used in antique restoration and museum conservation. Most safely used to polish and conserve metal objects, it is also used on gemstones and such organic materials wood, ivory, and tortoiseshell. The product is sometime…

and Orvus soap
can be used to clean and preserve the surface of the dolls. Cleaning cloudy eyes – Many dolls have eyes made from glass that can become cloudy. That can be fixed with Renaissance Wax cleaning.

Full Answer

Can you repair an antique porcelain doll?

Any well-made bisque or porcelain doll has detailed the eyelashes and lips, and its cheek blush is not too heavy. What is Antique Doll Repair? Some believe that if a doll is missing a finger, it’s just a matter of reattaching it using a powerful adhesive. Yes, you may do that. The finger may even fit, sort of.

What is a bisque doll?

Bisque is unglazed porcelain. It has a matte finish and gives the doll’s skill a human-like texture. When the production of bisque dolls began in the late 1800s in France, only the heads were made of bisque (cloth or leather was used for the rest of the body).

What is included in an antique doll restoration?

Doll restoration can include making sure that your antique doll is ready to weather whatever may come in the future. Conservation can make sure that your priceless antique doll will not further degrade over time. Antique doll repair experts can clean and repair your doll, finding subtle defects that can be healed before they become major problems.

How do you repair doll bodies?

In extreme cases an arm or leg is fully detached. I can patch the bodies and re-stuff them as needed to return them to their original condition. Note that the patches will be visible on the bodies. This is the accepted means of repair for these dolls. While I can usually match the leather patches they will be visible on the body.

image

How do you restring an old bisque doll?

5:086:28How to Re-String an Antique Doll with Ruby Lane - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut you can actually do it yourself once you learn here we go basically just tie it again okay tieMoreBut you can actually do it yourself once you learn here we go basically just tie it again okay tie it off. So I like to try a tie three knots. One more cut the cord.

Can you fix porcelain dolls?

Misshapen body – If the body of the doll is misshapen, that can actually be fixed. Treating the doll to the humidifier for at least two weeks, can make a doll bendable enough so that the body can be slowly reshaped.

How do you fix a broken ceramic doll?

0:041:02How to Repair Porcelain - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCarefully line up the second part and press together for ten seconds. Do not move the bond duringMoreCarefully line up the second part and press together for ten seconds. Do not move the bond during this time as this will disrupt the curing. Process that's. It you.

How much does it cost to restore a doll?

A typical doll restoration averages about $12 – $18 per inch of doll, but every doll has different needs, so the price on a doll repair bid may vary greatly.

What is the best glue to use to repair porcelain?

epoxyIf you have a project that requires gap bonding or filling, surface repairs or laminating, the best glue for porcelain or ceramic repairs will be an epoxy. An epoxy consists of two parts: resin and hardener. When mixed together, they produce a durable, high strength bond.

Can old dolls be repaired?

Repairing an antique doll means fixing a part that is broken or damaged in some way. So, a broken arm might be glued back together or a wig could be cleaned and restyled. Restoration means bringing the doll back to its original condition including wigs and hair styling, clothing and facial features.

How do you repair ceramic figures?

0:224:05How to Repair Broken Ceramic - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow thorough mixing is important but so is time I've only got about three to four minutes to workMoreNow thorough mixing is important but so is time I've only got about three to four minutes to work with this adhesive. Because these pieces are so small a pair of self gripping tweezers.

Can you fix broken ceramic?

Most pottery that was broken can be fixed! If you have all the pieces and a high-quality adhesive, you can put it back together. Repairing pottery requires high-quality ceramics glue. In cases with valuable pottery, you may want to take it to a professional.

Does milk fix broken ceramic?

You place your cracked piece in a pot and cover it with two cups of milk (or more if needed). Next, heat over low for an hour. Allow to cool in milk and then remove and rinse. Your piece, if the crack wasn't too far gone, should now have resealed itself!

How do you repair an old doll?

6:0944:54Tutorial: Repairing a Bru Antique Doll Body Video | Doll Shop ShowYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you can cut out little pieces of them and just glue them on to patch it. Okay. Do not go aheadMoreAnd you can cut out little pieces of them and just glue them on to patch it. Okay. Do not go ahead and put huge patches on your dolls.

What can you do with old dolls?

The obvious answer for any toy in good condition is donate it to a charity shop or charity for another child to enjoy – but I know from personal experience dolls quite often don't make it out of a childhood in good enough condition to donate.

How do you fix a broken doll?

0:331:41How to repair restore fix Barbie, Monster High and EAH broken ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPush and apply hot glue to hold it in place after the glue dries attach tape around the pin. ApplyMorePush and apply hot glue to hold it in place after the glue dries attach tape around the pin. Apply enough tape to fit through the opening on the doll's. Head trim then place the head back on.

How to fix a doll's head?

If you notice any need for repairs in the head area, it is best to use a knife. Carefully insert it under the pate , which is usually made from foam or cork. This part directly affects the way the hair lies around the doll’s head. Make sure to match it as best as possible, although this may be a bit difficult if the doll is very old. In such a case, you may need to try out different types to best fit the size and shape. Apply some glue to its base and fix to the doll’s head. Sometimes, you may also need to replace the wig in order to have the doll look more pleasing. Try to select a wig which best suits the doll’s skin color, features and size. You may need to apply glue all around the head’s area so as to help the wig fit well. Regularly comb the hair of the doll and try to wash it from time to time.

Can you repair an antique doll?

Repairing an antique doll is a task that may need some attention to detail and care, but ultimately, if you follow some basic guidelines and tips, it is not an impossible thing to do. Besides, you would be restoring beauty to the doll in order to retain its antique value.

Do you need to replace a doll's wig?

Sometimes, you may also need to replace the wig in order to have the doll look more pleasing . Try to select a wig which best suits the doll’s skin color, features and size. You may need to apply glue all around the head’s area so as to help the wig fit well.

Can you glue a doll to the edges?

The hands, feet, fingers and toes and practically any moving part of the doll, over time have a high risk of breaking. You will need to apply glue to the edges, press together for a few moments until you can see that the glue has stuck well. There may be instances where some part may be missing.

How to fix a crack in bisque?

You could try pulverizing a piece of bisque from the same clay body into a powder, mix it with some sodium silicate, and fill in the crack. Then, re-bisque the piece before glazing. The pulverized bisque will have already shrunk to the same condition as the bowl. If you add clay/paperclay to fill the crack in bisqueware and then go straight to glaze, the patch clay will not have shrunk and you will end up with a misfit.

How to fill cracks in a rim?

You could try making a little bit of paper clay to fill in the crack..... a little of your clay body + some wet toilet paper (30%-50%), throw it in a blender. After it dries see if you need to add more into the crack, dry again, sand to fit the curve of the rim. Glaze, fire. If you already have paper clay of the ^6, it would work too. Best of luck,

Do I re-bisque paperclay before glazing?

I always re-bisque a paperclay repair before glazing it.

Can you make two bowls the same?

Ha! You are right -- it will probably not work in the end and it certainly sounds easier to just make another bowl. Of course, no two bowls are alike. But I may try to repair it anyway, just in case there's a time in the future when something I can't replace cracks - and I will have had the practice.

Does bisque shrunk when pulverized?

The pulverized bisque will have already shrunk to the same condition as the bowl. If you add clay/paperclay to fill the crack in bisqueware and then go straight to glaze, the patch clay will not have shrunk and you will end up with a misfit. There is a chance that the crack will continue to grow during the glaze firing; further, ...

What to include in an email about a doll repair?

In the E-mail about a doll repair you should attach pictures of the doll and if possible close-ups of the damaged areas. Also the size of the doll is useful in assessing the cost of repairs. If parts are broken also indicate if you have the broken pieces (like fingers or toes).

What to do if your doll's eyes are missing?

If the eyes are missing you should try to find the eyes and any parts of the eye mechanism and bring them with the doll . Finding replacements can take time and is always more expensive than using the original eyes.

What dolls were made of rubber?

In the late 40's and early 50's there were many dolls (like Tiny Tears) made with rubber bodies. Over time these bodies usually split or collapse like a deflated balloon (see picture to the right). Many people say I can work miracles with dolls but unfortunately for these bodies there is no miracle repair. No one is making replacement parts for them. Any vintage doll I could get for parts is usually similarly deteriorated or is so brittle it would be damaged trying to remove parts. I know many of these dolls have tremendous sentimental value to there owners but unfortunately there is nothing I can do to repair them.

Can I repair bisque dolls?

For bisque or porcelain dolls with leather bodies I can repair and re stuff bodies. Over time the kidskin will become brittle and will crack. The stuffing usually sawdust or cork will then leak out. In extreme cases an arm or leg is fully detached. I can patch the bodies and re-stuff them as needed to return them to their original condition. Note that the patches will be visible on the bodies . This is the accepted means of repair for these dolls. While I can usually match the leather patches they will be visible on the body.

Can porcelain dolls be repaired?

I do not repair antique porcelain or China dolls using invisible repair techniques. Depending on the extent of the damage I can glue the broken pieces together if no pieces are missing. In this case the repairs may be visible. On porcelain or china dolls I can restring them, fix their hair, repair the bodies and eyes. (see other sections)

Can you return a doll to the shop?

When you return to pick up the doll you will contact the sales help and they will collect the money for the repair and return the doll. See the shops tab for details of where repairs can be dropped off. see shops

Can I clean doll hair?

I can clean and restyle your favorite dolls hair to make it look almost as good as new within the limits of what the wig allows. In extreme cases the hair may be in such bad shape it may not be suitable for restoration. In this case I can provide replacement wigs.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9