The Porcelain Doll Workshop
Glossary of Terms related to Porcelain Doll Making:
The basic requirements for making a porcelain doll are; a mold, some slip, and a kiln.
The mold, usually in two parts, is made of plaster. The slip is a liquid form of clay which is poured into the mold. After being allowed to set up to the desired thickness, which, depending on the size of the piece, is about the size of two nickels face-to-face, the remaining slip is poured out. The resulting cast is allowed to firm up before being released from the mold.
Illustrations Set 1. Click here
- Illustration 1...pouring the slip into the mold.
- Illustration 2...draining the mold.
- Illustration 3...opening the mold.
- Illustration 4...carefully removing the cast from the mold.
Once released from the mold, and allowed to dry to the "leather hard" stage, the opening in the top of the head is cut out, small holes are drilled into the eye sockets in order to make it easier to cut out the eye holes, and, if desired, the ears are pierced.
Then the piece is allowed to thoroughly dry for cleaning, or it is placed in the kiln for soft-firing to cone 018. Soft-firing is becoming the accepted method of cleaning greenware as it is dust free as compared to dry cleaning of greenware which can be a health hazard.
To clean soft-fired greenware, the piece is soaked in water for a minimum of 5 minutes. It can stay in water indefinitely without harm.
Keeping your tools wet, the seams are removed, the eyes are cut out and, if necessary, the mouth is opened.
Illustrations Set 2. Click here
- Illustration 5...Cutting out the top of the head.
- Illustration 6...Soaking in preparation for cleaning.
- Illustration 7...Removing seam lines with a scrubber.
- Illustration 8...Cutting out the eyes with a sharp scalpel.
- Illustration 9...Cutting out the mouth and carving in teeth.
After the piece is cleaned, it is placed in the kiln with prop, a ceramic fiber which does not contain asbestos, and if necessary, on a layer of silica sand.
It is then fired to cone 6 (approx 2250 F). Accurate firing is necessary for the proper finish for your doll. Underfiring can cause mildew, black "freckles" in the bisque, and the piece will be dull. Overfiring can cause blistering and a shiny finish.
After the piece is fired and allowed to cool down, the china paint is applied. There will be several stages and firings during the painting process, and each time, the china paint is fired to cone 018.
Once the painting and firing is complete, it's time to assemble the doll.
First the eyes will be set in with wax to position them, then cemented into place. The head is attached to an appropriate body, the pate glued on over the open crown, and then the wig is put on.
Your doll is ready to dress.
Illustrations Set 4. Click here
- Illustration 13...Painting the lips.
- Illustration 14...Painting the eyelashes.
- Illustration 15...Placing the eyes with a thin roll of wax.
Body Types Illustrations. Click here.
- Illustration 16...cloth baby bodies with porcelain hands.
- Illustration 17...cloth lady bodies with porcelain arms and with or without porcelain legs.
- Illustration 18...composition bodies.
- Illustration 19...bent leg baby bodies.
Stringing Composition Bodies
Composition bodies are strung by means of hooks and elastic. The hooks are cemented into the hands and feet or the top of the lower leg. They are then strung together with elastic which fastens to a hook which comes through the neck opening in the head.
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Last updated: Jan 26, 2003