I am posting this early today,as Ken and I are having lunch with an old friend, after which Emma is picking me up. We're going to a concert all the way in Pittsburgh. Emma chose to do the trip. It's Squeeze and KT Tunstall,both of which Emma has seen before,but I guess she thought it was worth the drive. I've seen Squeeze,one of my favourite bands, a couple of times:once in the 80's,and once with Emma and Ivy. I haven't seen KT Tunstall, but I do like her music.
Today we're looking at a doll that is in such bad shape that I wouldn't normally feature her. But there is a reason.
She's an 18 inch Horsman doll, and it says so on the back of her neck. She's probably from no earlier than the 50's because of her vinyl arms. If anybody knows her name,please let me know.
Don't mind my nails. I was painting that secret Ivy furniture. |
Her sleep eyes work well.
She has molded hair under her wig. That seems to have been a pretty common thing with old dolls. I'm not sure why they molded hair and then stuck a wig on the doll anyway. I suppose the molded hair came in handy if they produced different versions of the doll,or if the used the same mold for different dolls. It gave them options I guess.
This is almost certainly her original wig,because it's in such bad condition.
Her wig has very prominent stitching. |
Her head appears to be attached to her body with wire. |
Her body is stuffed,with a 'mama' box that still works.
I am showing her though,because she's in such bad shape. Because she's sort of falling apart we're able to see something I have never seen before.
She has a wooden arm joint connecting her vinyl lower arm to her cloth upper arm. I am a little surprised. For one thing, it seems strange to see a wooden joint like that in a doll with vinyl arms. I would have thought that by the time they got to vinyl they would have been using plastic joints. Also,she has arms like dolls such as Thumbelina. That type of doll usually didn't have joints. The vinyl arm was just stitched to the fabric upper arm. This wooden joint would probably have allowed this dolls arms to be posed, and they would have held the pose.
Ok. Question here. Is she worth saving? Her mama box still works,her body is in good shape. Her limbs are very discoloured,but then, I haven't tried cleaning them. They might come up nicely,but I'm inclined to think they'll at least be yellowed a bit. Her wig is shot. She will definitely need another wig. Honestly, if anybody wants to make a project of her, you're welcome to her if you want to pay the shipping. It would be nice to see her saved. If any of you do take her, I'd love to see her when you get her restored.
That's the doll for today. See you again tomorrow.