Introduction
Composition dolls happened as an intermediary stage between the plastic and vinyl dolls of the 20 th century and the porcelain and bisque dolls of the preceding centuries. Composition dolls were launched in the American market in the early decades of the 20 th century.
A Little History
The launch of composition dolls was closely connected with the First World War. Americans stopped buying imported German dolls, which were thought to be of high quality, during this period. Composition was a comparatively inexpensive material and less prone to breakage, so the material soon gained popularity among doll manufacturers.
The period between the 1920s and 1940s was the heyday of composition dolls in the American market. Hard plastic later replaced composition as the preferred material for making toys.
The Making
Let us now take a look at the composition of composition dolls. Wood pulp and glue are the basic materials that make up composition. This material was kept inside molds so that they hardened. The molded dolls were then coated with a thick layer of paint, flesh color first. Once the basic body was formed, features such as eyes were painted onto it. A coat of varnish was given as the final touch up to protect the material and the painted features.
Some composition dolls had molded and painted hair while others had wigs on them. These wigs were usually made of mohair. Great attention went into the making of their attire that reflected the fashion of the age.
A good portion of composition dolls were images of babies and small children. However there were also figurines of popular characters of the time like Scarlett O’Hara of Gone with the Wind and the characters of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott were also popular.
Care for Your Composition Dolls
Composition dolls are not as vulnerable to damage as bisque and porcelain dolls, but they are not as sturdy as hard plastic and vinyl dolls. Composition dolls are easily affected by age and playwear. Humidity and extreme changes in temperature also affect the paint over time, forming fine surface cracks called crazing. The paint can also flake off and expose the material.
Therefore composition dolls need to be taken special care of to maintain their beauty. Composition dolls should not be exposed to extreme temperature changes and moisture. Use tissue paper when you have to pack composition dolls; avoid using plastic to pack at any cost as plastic cannot breathe and tends to retain moisture.
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