Puppet doctor
A doll doctor is a restorer of dolls . Similarly, the workshop of the “doll doctor” is often referred to as the “doll clinic”.
The profession of doll doctor or restorer is not officially recognized and is usually learned through an internship. However, particularly valuable dolls are also restored by trained restorers in other fields, for example the porcelain heads by ceramic restorers or the clothes by specialists in textiles .
history
The profession emerged with the proliferation of sensitive wax or porcelain heads on dolls. Mainly dolls made of celluloid (e.g. Schildkröt), porcelain, wax, wood and fabric are restored.
In Austria and Germany, until a few years ago, it was mostly hairdressers who repaired dolls. This was mainly due to the fact that dolls used to have wigs made of real hair that were made by hairdressers.
Some doll doctors also offer their services at specialist markets for antiques or old toys. However, not only are old dolls restored, which can be considered antiques , but also newer pieces, which are brought to repair by their now grown-up owners as childhood memories that have become cherished.
watch TV
The job of the puppet doctor also became popular as a figure in the GDR children's program Unser Sandmännchen (Frau puppet doctor pill with the big, smart glasses). Richard C. Schneider presented the Squatriti doll repair workshop in Rome in his video blog Where Europe began .
Web links
- Map of Germany “Doll and Teddy Clinics” from ZEITmagazin, October 12, 2016