People of all ages enjoy the delightful hobby of doll collecting. Whether one favors the those fashioned from china, plastic, or the timeless charm of soft dolls like Raggedy Ann and Andy, with stuffed cloth bodies, a doll can be very special. Serious collectors should know which factors affect a doll's value and they should know how to care for them so they last a long time.
The time period the doll dates from can impact its market price, but not necessarily, the doll's condition and the artist who created it all also count. As a rule, antique and collectible dolls attract higher prices, but newer ones can sometimes cost even more. The educated buyer will be familiar with details which are indicative of quality such as clothing, stitching, hairstyle, and features.
Minor imperfections such as holes, cracks, or worn spots can develop over time as a doll is played with or just as a result of aging, but these flaws can often be repaired sufficiently by a toy restoration specialist. When there is such issues with a doll, it will likely be offered for a considerably lower price than it would otherwise.
The popularity of a specific doll is another key factor that influences its worth. Those who wish to purchase for resale need to do their research and consult books which indicate typical prices, however it should be understood that these are normally for mint condition dolls, therefore a lower price can be anticipated for those with signs of wear or minor damage.
A cloth dolly can be part of an adult collector's prized collection or it may be a child's best friend. In either case it may eventually benefit from being cleaned so it stays looking nice. It's important to exercise caution when attempting to clean a doll however, as to prevent permanent damage. Cleaning properly can rejuvenate a doll's appearance and help preserve it.
It's advisable to figure out what materials the doll is made from prior to cleaning it. Some will have labels attached that should contain this information, but if they don't it will be necessary to do some experimentation to figure out the most suitable cleaning method. In order to find out if the fabric will run or bleed, dab the doll's back with a damp cloth, if it runs water cannot safely be used.
A doll whose fabric appears to be able to sustain washing, must first have its stuffing, if it's not polyester removed by slightly opening one seam. It's fine to wash the doll's body with a detergent for fine washables or baby shampoo, followed by a thorough rinse to remove any residue, wringing out and finally hung on a drying rack. When the body is dried completely, stuffing can be replaced.
It's even safe to machine wash a doll in the gentle cycle with hot water and ordinary laundry detergent as long as it's in decent shape and is made from cotton fabric with polyester stuffing and acrylic yarn hair. Drying in the clothes dryer on low heat is also acceptable if there are no plastic parts on the doll, but line-drying is better.
The time period the doll dates from can impact its market price, but not necessarily, the doll's condition and the artist who created it all also count. As a rule, antique and collectible dolls attract higher prices, but newer ones can sometimes cost even more. The educated buyer will be familiar with details which are indicative of quality such as clothing, stitching, hairstyle, and features.
Minor imperfections such as holes, cracks, or worn spots can develop over time as a doll is played with or just as a result of aging, but these flaws can often be repaired sufficiently by a toy restoration specialist. When there is such issues with a doll, it will likely be offered for a considerably lower price than it would otherwise.
The popularity of a specific doll is another key factor that influences its worth. Those who wish to purchase for resale need to do their research and consult books which indicate typical prices, however it should be understood that these are normally for mint condition dolls, therefore a lower price can be anticipated for those with signs of wear or minor damage.
A cloth dolly can be part of an adult collector's prized collection or it may be a child's best friend. In either case it may eventually benefit from being cleaned so it stays looking nice. It's important to exercise caution when attempting to clean a doll however, as to prevent permanent damage. Cleaning properly can rejuvenate a doll's appearance and help preserve it.
It's advisable to figure out what materials the doll is made from prior to cleaning it. Some will have labels attached that should contain this information, but if they don't it will be necessary to do some experimentation to figure out the most suitable cleaning method. In order to find out if the fabric will run or bleed, dab the doll's back with a damp cloth, if it runs water cannot safely be used.
A doll whose fabric appears to be able to sustain washing, must first have its stuffing, if it's not polyester removed by slightly opening one seam. It's fine to wash the doll's body with a detergent for fine washables or baby shampoo, followed by a thorough rinse to remove any residue, wringing out and finally hung on a drying rack. When the body is dried completely, stuffing can be replaced.
It's even safe to machine wash a doll in the gentle cycle with hot water and ordinary laundry detergent as long as it's in decent shape and is made from cotton fabric with polyester stuffing and acrylic yarn hair. Drying in the clothes dryer on low heat is also acceptable if there are no plastic parts on the doll, but line-drying is better.
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