Conserving Barbie from degradation
By 
Rachel Brazil2024-04-22T08:48:00
Although she is a cultural icon, conserving Barbie has its challenges: as with most plastic toys and dolls, she was not made to last. Rachel Brazil investigates how conservation scientists are approaching this sticky problem
Some love Barbie for being a pioneering female role model, with astronaut and surgeon dolls available before these careers were attainable for woman in real life. Others deride her for her permanent high heels and unrealistic body shape, which some worry add to the body image anxiety experienced by many young girls. Either way, Barbie’s status as a cultural icon has made her collectible – the oldest and rarest dolls now fetch over $1000 (£800). But keeping her for posterity is not so easy – as with most plastics, Barbie was not made to last. She suffers from what conservators call ‘inherent vice’ – an instability intrinsic to the plastic she is made from.