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BLACK DOLL-E-ZINE

Vol. 2, Issue 3 FALL 2003

DOLL CARE BASICS

The Rescue and Makeover of Two 1960's Dolls

She's So Sassy Now!

Have you ever seen a doll at auction, at a garage sale, a thrift shop or other place of doll discard and thought that the doll's condition was hopeless? If so, you may have missed an opportunity to engage in doll rescue.

One such doll was found recently at auction, a 1968 doll by EEGEE. Before the auction was won, the year and manufacturer were the only information available with reference to the doll's identity. The high bidder knew that the doll was SOMEBODY and that it had potential.

After receiving the doll and doing a search for its identity in doll reference books to no avail, a search for information was done on the Internet. It was discovered that the doll is an exact replica of Ideal's 1960's Saucy doll, aka Super Saucy. She stands 29 inches tall, has a cherub-like face with a cute little grin, a chubby body and chunky legs. Ideal manufactured their doll for a very short period. During the 1960s many manufacturers sold their molds to other companies or companies purchased doll molds from the same source. This may be what happened in the case of this particular doll.

The doll arrived wearing shoes but was otherwise nude in absolutely filthy condition, as outlined in the first few pictures to the right. Her rescuer had to put on disposable gloves for fear of catching an incurable disease from handling the doll. She was immediately given a sink bath using the strongest, nonabrasive household disinfecting cleanser on hand. Since she would require re-wigging, her hair was also washed using the same cleanser. Her ivory colored, vinyl shoes were next soaked in a sink of diluted bleach water and wiped clean after soaking.

The bristles from a makeup brush were used to painstakingly replace the eyelashes missing from the mid portion of her right eyelid. The bristles were cut from the brush with scissors and lined up and grasped with tweezers. Craft super glue was applied to one end of the bristles. The bristles were slid into the pre-placed eyelid slit. This was not easy... but it had to be done!

At a local thrift shop, a couple of really cute size 9 and 12-month size infant dresses were found for under $2 each. These were tried on for size and, had they not needed hemming, they would have been a perfect fit. A child's size 6 navy blue shoe was purchased from Wal-Mart. Apple Valley™ Pia and Ruby dark brown wigs, size 17/18, were ordered from an online Apple Valley™ dealer.

The clothing, wigs, and shoes were tried on for size. The final result is this too-cute, 29-inch, 1968 (actual name unknown) Super Saucy look-a-like that has affectionately been named, "So Sassy."

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What a Difference an Outfit Makes

Making over a doll is usually just a matter of changing its wig and outfit, but can involve other things such as adding makeup or blushing. For this particular doll, its owner had become tired of her choppy, too-dry hair that would shed if you stared at it. Thus, re-wigging was long overdue. Although her child's size 4 outfit was cute, it was time for a change.

While shopping for Sassy, a brand-new, green plaid, dark cotton, schoolgirl-type dress in a child's size 2T was purchased. Not knowing who would get the opportunity to wear it, it was purchased because the collector knew that one of the dolls already in her collection or perhaps one that she would acquire later would be able to wear it.

After the 36-inch walker had been re-wigged, the green plaid dress was tried on for size and was a perfect fit. It also allowed her chunky legs to be exposed. The navy blue shoes that So Sassy no longer needed were tried on and they were a perfect fit. Making over this doll was like getting a new doll without the added expense.

So before you go throwing out any dolls or passing up dolls that may cross your path, look beyond their exterior appearance and consider performing a doll rescue or makeover.

Upon Arrival