ANTIQUE CARE - Stuffed Toys & Dolls

The best care is preventative care. As a result, try to keep your toys and dolls in a place with few fluctuations in heat and humidity. Sunlight is also damaging so they should not be in direct light. A glass case will keep both dirt and smoke (both wood smoke and cigarette smoke) off your objects and help maintain their value.

When displaying them, don't use glue or adhesive tape around your items and never string items up with wire.

When putting a toy into storage, take the take time to examine it. Note what materials it is made of and consider that when choosing a storage location. If you stored your wax headed doll near heat sources or lights, it could easily melt. Of if you stored it in a location subject to cold, such as an attic, it could cause cracks.

Plastics can degrade into sticky messes (especially early plastics). Some early plastics and PVC give off fumes and these fumes can cause degradation. If a surface is sticky, cracked, powdery or has darkened it should be kept away from other items as the fumes can cause damage to the other pieces.

Items should be stored separately and wrapped in acid-free tissue. Plastic items should be put in well-ventilated boxes.

Try to keep cleaning should be kept to a minimum with these items. You can remove dust with a soft brush - but try to keep dust from accumulating by keeping these items in a case if possible. Don't use water to clean if your item is cracked as it can allow water to get into the substrate and cause more damage.

Never try to 'touch up' items with paint.

19th century dolls often had mohair for hair instead of human hair. When mohair was used, it was often set using a sugar water solution. If you try to wash and set your doll's hair, you could be removing this original material.

The same rules that apply to historic costume are true with stuffed animals and dolls. Old textiles do not react to modern cleaning techniques the way new textiles do. Just using tap water and soap flakes can cause damage!

If you want to make new clothes for a doll, make sure you save all the original clothing. If you don't, then the financial value of your doll or stuffed toy will drop.

If your valuable stuffed toy or doll needs repairs, make sure that a trained conservator undertakes them. Items made of textiles such as teddy bears should be examined by a textile conservator. Some items, such as dolls made of ceramics may need the help of both a textile conservator and a ceramics conservator.