Specialists in Antique Bisque & China Restoration
MacDowell-Certified · Member UFDC & Doll Costumer's Guild
Mary B. Lytle · 2806 E. 9th St. · Tucson, AZ 85716-5242 USA · 1-800-692-1148
E-mail: puppen@heirloomrestoration.com

Repair means to fix, to mend, or to patch something that has been damaged or has deteriorated with age. Restore means to bring something back to its former or original appearance. Before something can be restored, it must first be repaired. For example, if a broken porcelain shoulderplate is reassembled, it is repaired. If after reassembly, the cracks and chips around the repaired area are filled, smoothed, color matched, and painted, so the shoulderplate looks as it did before it was broken, it has been restored. Repair requires technical skill and a good knowledge of materials. Restoration is a fine art which requires not only technical skill, but a studied eye and artistic talent.

The primary concern when contemplating repair and restoration should be preservation – the prevention of further deterioration. A hairline crack will not improve without some help, and the sooner the work is done, the better. If a doll is neglected, deterioration will continue until its value will eventually be completely destroyed. The value of a doll – historic, sentimental, aesthetic, and monetary – should be considered when contemplating restoration. Ethical restoration always maintains or enhances the value of a doll. Restoration that is necessary for preservation never devalues a doll! Restoration undertaken to improve the aesthetic value of a doll is perfectly acceptable, but should not compromise the historic value of the doll.

Always select a reputable professional to do your repair and restoration work. Ask knowledgeable antiques collectors or dealers for their recommendations of a qualified professional. If such a recommendation is not available to you, "interview" the person you are considering for your restoration work. Don't be afraid to ask questions about their training and qualifications, experience, and ethics, and ask to see some "before and after" photographs of their work. A true professional will understand your care and concern, and will not be insulted by your questions.