Hobbies And Interests
Instructions
Examine the entire body of the naked Barbie doll for any manufacturer's markings. Check the back of the doll's head, the bottom of the feet and the doll's derriere. In the 1970's, some Barbie dolls had molded underpants with manufacturer's markings printed within the design.
Observe the color and material used to make the doll body. Early Barbie-doll bodies were made from a dense, solid vinyl that had a light-to-medium skin tone. Check if the arms and legs still have their ability to move. Older Barbie dolls did not have arms or legs that flexed at the elbow or the knee.
Examine the face. Check the eye color, eyeliner or eyeshadow color as well as the lipstick color. The original 1959 Barbie had white irises and black eyeliner painted in the "cat's eye" shape. Eyebrows were either dark or light brown if the doll was blond. All early Barbie dolls had deep-red lipstick painted on closed mouths. All early Barbie dolls had pierced ears and wore small, single "pearl" earrings set on a stick pin, which was inserted into the doll's ear and head.
Observe the Barbie doll's hair for material and hairstyle. The original Barbie came with a ponytail and tiny curled bangs made from a silky rayon material. The end of the pony tail formed a hard clump to discourage little girls from trying to comb it out. By 1962, Barbie could be purchased in either a ponytail or a short, wavy "bubble cut" made of rayon. Jackie Kennedy's hairstyle at the time was the model for Barbie's bubble cut.
Check the bottom of the feet. The early Barbie doll had holes drilled into the bottom of the feet and slip-on style high-heeled shoes that fit over a pegged stand. The other Barbie-doll type had no holes drilled into the feet and came with a black wire doll stand.
Become familiar with the later generations and adaptations of the Barbie doll, such as the first twistable waist in the mid-1960's, and the most-glamorous, most-collectible era for Barbie,1965-1966, when Barbie wore a long pageboy look with straight bangs.
Evaluate the overall condition of the Barbie doll. Check for scratches and nicks on the body and face, rust marks on the ears from the earrings, or any damage to the face.