PROFILE: 2nd Generation Licca (Custom)

Type of Doll: Takara Licca Customized 2nd Generation headmold Licca Year of production: 1972 - 1980 Hair: brown (original but restyled) Eyes: blue (also original) Eyeshadow: none Lips: violet (repainted)

Note: Licca of the 2nd generation was introduced in 1972. As I talked about in Who is Licca?, this Licca version/generation is but one of five (although the 5th was short-lived and Takara switched back to 4th) we've seen through the years. She has a different face than the current 4th gen Liccas and a smaller, MUCH slimmer body. It's possible to get older Liccas like this second-hand from other collectors or on auctions, and in varying conditions.

I got mine on Yahoo!Japan for a cheap price considering how lovingly she has been restored and she came with a beautiful handmade retro dress and hat. ^o^ The auction showed 'before' and 'after' photos of her body. Here are the the seller's original photos as displayed on her own website. ^^

I was always very intrigued by customized dolls that have been through a lot in the past and which show the apparent signs of age... Yet, they are still loved and cherished by their owners. They're often damaged and lacking in some way and it's the customizer's joy to restore and clean the dolls so they come to life once more. This Licca here originally had quite dry and frizzy hair, especially at the ends (very common), bite marks on her feet and hands/fingers and her face paint was faded a bit. There's a little pinprick in her right ear. Apart from that she didn't look that bad at all - it could have been much worse! The changes the customizer made were as follows:

- The hair has been shampoo-ed and restyled into a gentle perm. This hairdo hides any imperfections she might have around the hairline.
- The body was washed and cleaned as much as possible.
- The wire in one of the arms was repaired.
- The eyelashes and eyebrows were repainted where the paint was starting to thin out. Acrylic paint was used for all the repaints.
- Lip color was changed from orange to a lovely violet.
- Soft violet blush was added to both cheeks. The original had no blush.
- When done, the face was coated with lusterless paint sealer.

All in all, the customization was done gently in a way that does not "spoil the impression of the original face". I think it's very sweet and suits the lady-like face of 2nd gen Licca! The dress, too, is so well-made. I've been a fan of this particular Licca customizer and seamstress (Osharebox) ever since I got into Licca dolls. She makes beautiful retro dresses for new and older Liccas and I especially fell in love with her little 1st gen/1st gen replica fashions.

The imperfections on Licca's body - tiny bite marks on her feet - are easily concealed with socks and shoes and don't deter from her beauty at all. They make her even more special in my eyes.

The seller can rest assured I will take good care of Licca-chan! She already has a very special place in my collection and lots of friends. ^_^

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