Bettina Dorfmann, from Dusseldorf, Germany, has the largest collection of Barbies in the world
Ms Dorfmann keeps an extensive array of Barbie arms, legs and other spare parts at the ready, as well as paints in various shades to touch up the dolls’ discoloured lip shades and skin tones. She even takes old outfits apart to reuse their tiny buttons and zips.
Her Barbie hospital is equipped with magnifying glasses to help focus on the delicate work and a range of glues. “There are so many different Barbie models and body shapes, different hand sizes, and the skin tone varies greatly,” the doll enthusiast says. Customers are typically collectors for whom Barbies can be big business. Second-hand dolls can sell at auction for prices ranging from a few pounds to more than £20,000 for original first-edition dolls in mint condition. The Barbie hospital also gets frequent enquiries from nostalgic owners wanting their childhood toys repaired.
“My clients come from Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, England and Sweden. Collectors will travel Europe-wide to trade fairs. I do repair work every month and get enquiries coming in by post. There’s always something to do.”Ms Dorfmann’s Barbie expertise now goes far beyond doll restoration. A leading authority on the subject, she can provide certified appraisals of the dolls’ value for insurance purposes.
. Ms Dorfmann also works as a curator at the Doll and Toy Museum in Ratingen, near Dusseldorf, where she holds Barbie exhibitions.in 2011 with 15,000 dolls. Since then, it has ballooned to around 18,500 of the toys. The precise number is currently being reassessed by record book experts.
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