In 2005 I went through a phase of buying Vintage Barbies in TLC condition;
this poor darling was the worst of them. A real shame too as I believe her to be a platinum Ponytail Swirl,
one of the rarer ones, as her white lipstick looks original.
Condition of doll's head on purchase - it looks like a reroot had been attempted
but the plugs were too thick and split the head open. Hair had been subsequently cut off.
Note severe greening from non-original earring.
From the front.
Head gently removed from doll by heating vinyl over warm water.
Hair plugs removed showing just how bad split is - not quite through to neck hole.
Earrings removed showing extent of green ear.
From the front - face cleaned with some loss of paint.
(Photos to come)
I was able to successfully glue the split but decided it would be too risky to reroot the hair,
buying instead a cute Dusty Springfield style wig for the poor dear. In the spirit of conservation
rather than restoration I have also decided to leave her make-up "as is". I am also as yet to attempt
putting the head back on the body, not sure that the mended split will withstain the stress on it,
even with gently heating and softening the vinyl.
