Yesterday was one of those quiet but important days at the museum—the kind of work visitors rarely see, yet one of the most important parts of preserving our collection for future generations.
We are fortunate to work with The Doll Doctor, a specialist restoration business in Perth run by husband-and-wife team Colin and Robyn. With decades of experience in antique and vintage dolls, they not only carry out conservation and restoration work but are also incredibly generous in sharing their knowledge. Every visit becomes both a restoration appointment and a valuable learning experience for our museum.
We spent the day carefully assessing a group of dolls that are preparing to visit the doll hospital in Perth. Before any conservation or restoration work begins, each doll is examined, photographed and documented in detail.
For every doll, we prepare a condition report identifying which repairs are essential to stabilise the doll and which are simply desirable if time and budget allow. We also make a list of questions about the doll's construction, materials or history. Our doll doctor has decades of experience and is always generous in sharing his knowledge, making every visit an invaluable learning opportunity.
Preparing these reports means we can assess several dolls during one visit while ensuring nothing is overlooked. It also provides a permanent record of the discussions and recommendations when we collect the dolls later. These visits are incredibly rewarding, but they can also be mentally exhausting, with many decisions to make and a wealth of information to absorb.
Once we arrive, each doll is carefully examined. Sometimes repairs we hoped were possible simply aren't appropriate. Our doll doctor will honestly tell us when a repair would reduce a doll's originality, historical integrity or collector value. In many cases, understanding what should be left untouched is just as important as knowing what can be repaired.
Every doll tells its own story through the materials used to create it. Cracks in composition, worn paint, replaced bodies, restrung limbs and mismatched eyes all provide clues about a doll's age, manufacture and previous repairs. Some dolls have beautifully aged original parts, while others show evidence of well-intentioned repairs carried out decades ago using the materials available at the time.
Our role is not to erase those stories by making every doll look new. Instead, we aim to understand its history and preserve it for future generations.
As part of the preparation process, we photograph every detail, record measurements, document construction methods and discuss possible makers and countries of origin. Every conservation decision is made carefully. Not every crack needs filling, not every area requires repainting and not every imperfection should be corrected. Often, the signs of age are an important part of a doll's history and character.
Preparing dolls for conservation is also about respect. These dolls were once treasured childhood companions. They were hugged, carried, repaired by loving hands and sometimes patched together with whatever materials were available at the time. Those repairs have become part of their story.
Taking the time to prepare each doll carefully ensures that any conservation work supports its long-term preservation without erasing the evidence of a life well loved.
To contact the Doll Doctor click on their details here.
Days like yesterday remind us that museum work is often quiet, thoughtful and methodical. It's not simply about displaying beautiful dolls; it's about stewardship. Every doll that leaves My Doll Cottage for the doll hospital carries generations of history, and our responsibility is to ensure that history is preserved so future generations can continue to study, appreciate and enjoy these remarkable survivors from childhood.
With love
Shyloh
Tales from the youngest daughter of adoll collector — raised on Milo, Vegemite, and more antiques than a country opshop.
