1921–1929 Japanese All-Bisque Girl Doll with Movable Arms – Japan

This small all-bisque girl doll was made in Japan, most likely during the 1920s, as part of the large export trade in inexpensive Japanese bisque dolls that developed during and after the First World War.

The doll measures approximately 7 inches (178 mm) high and is made almost entirely from bisque porcelain. She has an elongated one-piece head, torso and legs, with separately made bisque arms attached through holes at the shoulders. The arms are movable and appear to have been restrung or repaired using modern elastic or fastening material.

Her face has painted side-glancing eyes, fine eyebrows, rosy cheeks and a small red heart-shaped mouth. The moulded hair is cut in a short bob with a fringe across the forehead and is painted a reddish-blonde or auburn colour. Her shoes are moulded as part of the legs and painted with dark straps and contrasting paletoes.

Japanese manufacturers became important suppliers of dolls to Western markets during the First World War, when disruption to German exports created opportunities for Japanese producers. Small all-bisque dolls were among the many styles manufactured for export. Japanese makers produced both fully jointed dolls andexamples such as this one with a solid body and movable arms.

The impressed “MADE IN JAPAN” country-of-origin marking provides an important dating clue. Earlier Japanese export dolls were commonly marked Nippon, while Japan and Made in Japan came into use from 1921. Japanese export production of these small articulated bisque dolls was particularly strong during the 1920s, before the international toy trade was disrupted by the Great Depression from 1929.

For this reason, I would catalogue the doll as c.1921–1929 rather than simply 1930s. A slightly broader c.1920s–early 1930s date would also be defensible if you prefer conservative museum dating.

No identifiable manufacturer's trademark is visible in the photographs. Numerous Japanese factories, workshops and exporters produced similar dolls, and country-of-origin wording alone cannot identify the maker. Although firms including Morimura Brothers and other Japanese manufacturers produced all-bisque dolls, there is insufficient evidence to attribute this example to a particular company.

The doll currently wears a pale mint-green satin dress with white lace trim and a small yellow ribbon decoration. As your collection records indicate that the dress is not original to the doll, it should be recorded as a later replacement rather than used when dating the object.

There is extensive age-related loss and rubbing to the painted surface, particularly across the face, hair, torso, legs and moulded shoes. Despite this considerable paint wear, the doll appears structurally intact in the photographs and retainsher original moulded form and facial decoration.

Features

Measurements: 170 x 70 x 60 mm

Condition: Good - paint worn

Markings: circle logo with MADE IN JAPAN

Date Note:   Date is  an estimate based on available research and  stylistic features. If you have additional information, please contact us  to help update our records.

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