New Antique Doll Shop on rubylane.com

I have just opened up a new antique doll shop on rubylane.com. It is called Endearing Elegance. Dolls hold a special place in my heart. As I child, I used to dress them up and make believe that they were ill. I pretended that I was a nurse that took care of them. As I look back at playing with dolls I am reminded of the saying “physician heal thyself.” Since then, when I see dolls they evoke a very strong positive emotion. I have kept them near to my heart.
As an adult, I have collected antique dolls for twenty years. I love the history, and the beauty of the porcelain faces. Antique dolls represent 1) a time in which artisans created beautiful work and 2) the thrill that the children had when they received such a treasure.
My philosophy is that antique dolls need to be conserved. If a Rembrandt oil painting begins to chip and peal, restorers work on it to preserve the integrity of the painting. Otherwise, it eventually would be lost over time. I believe the same is true of these wonderful dolls. I believe there is nothing wrong with cleaning them, restyling their wig, and redressing them in period-like clothing if the original clothing can’t be repaired or is non-existent. I believe if a professional conserves the doll that it has a greater chance of lasting another 100 years.
I hope that when someone purchases a doll in my store they may relive the thrill that they had when they got a “new” doll. For friends and family of individuals who love dolls, this gives them an opportunity to purchase a doll that will bring tears to the eyes of the receiver. This is my goal.