Tag: Libbey Dolls

Marissa Stevenson presented on the effects of long-term display on the “Libbey Dolls” in the Toledo Museum of Art. The dolls were created in 1915 and are named for the collector who purchased them. They depict characters popular in the later nineteenth and early twentieth century using multiple types of media that include wax, plaster, feathers, fur, human hair, lace, plaster, cotton, plant material, wire armatures, and more. After full-time display for over fifty years, along with two interventions that date to pre-collection in 1917 and to 1951, the dolls were showing damage. During that time, the dolls were exposed to incandescent lighting with the associated light and heat conditions, fluctuating environment, and lack of support on display. The result? Disfigurement, cracking, light damage, and other structural damages, topped off with a healthy dose of dust and grime.

 
The conservation study focused on the wax and included identification and treatment. Through IR analysis, the wax was identified as bee’s wax, which was observed to become brittle and darken. It was applied in four layers, with two layers of plaster supporting it. Cleaning tests of 1% ammonium citrate, saliva, methylcellulose with deionized water rinses, and gels, showed that wheat starch paste and saliva were the most effective. Adhesive tests with Jade 403, Aquazol 500, Rhoplex AC33&N58, Avalure UR450, Avalure AC120 showed that Avalure AC120 and Aquazol 500 preformed best. The Avlaure also supported good pigment dispersion, so this was used in areas that needed pigmented fill material. Since Avalure has not been tested as an adhesive, Stevenson chose to use it to adhere a broken leg in her case study. The leg’s hidden location will allow them to observe how the resin holds up over time without compromising aesthetics should it prove to be problematic in any way. Since the head is in a visually prominent location, and Aquazol has been tested as adhesive with good results, it was used there.
With the wax issues under control, the next step will be to investigate what the clothing’s needs and to address them. Finally, storage mounts need to be made. Solutions will need to consider how to fully support the dolls, and will in some cases necessitate horizontal storage, and in others vertical storage. Fosshape is a likely candidate for helping to create these supports, forming it on Ethafoam model. An audience member brought up the idea of using Varaform fabric for the mounting system since he said it is less bulky than Fosshape, comes in 3 weights, and though it is heated to use, it is not thermally conductive. This was a new material for Stevenson, who said she would investigate. This also led to a brief discussion regarding to long-term storage. Since Fosshape has pass Oddy testing, it seems like a good idea, but we do not know about its aging properties, so question was raised about it being appropriate for long-term storage.