c.1920s–1930s Japanese Bisque Girl Doll in Original Box – Made in Japan

This small Japanese bisque girl doll was manufactured for the export market during approximately the 1920s–1930s and survives with her original clothing and still sew into her origal cardboard box.

Measuring approximately 170 × 55 × 35 mm, with the doll itself approximately 6 inches (150 mm) tall, she has a bisque body with moulded facial features and hair. Her face is simply but attractively decorated with painted blue eyes, fine brown eyebrows and a small red mouth. The moulded hair is painted in a light reddish-blonde shade and styled close to the head with a pronounced swept fringe characteristic of children's and doll fashions of the interwar period.

She wears a simple cream-coloured skirt with an elasticated or gathered waist and a delicate net cape or collar tied around the shoulders. Pale blue painted socks and brown shoes complete her appearance. The simplicity of the costume is typical of the inexpensive miniature dolls produced in Japan inlarge quantities for overseas markets during this period.

The doll is stamped Japan. The doll has not been removed from the box so no markings on the doll are visible.

The doll's surviving cardboard box is an especially significant component of the object. It is covered externally with a colourful geometric floral pattern of green, cream and orange-red, while the interior is plain card. A length of string passes through the rear of the box and appears to have been used to secure the doll in position. Original packaging was frequently discarded once inexpensive toys were purchased, making surviving boxed examples particularly useful for documenting how small export dolls were originally presented and sold.

The doll remains in very good condition for its age, retaining strong facial decoration and much of her original appearance. The textiles show expected age-related discolouration and deterioration, particularly to the fine netcollar. The cardboard box displays edge wear, crushing, staining and losses consistent with its age, but remains substantially complete.

Features

Measurements: 170 × 55 × 35 mm

Condition: Excellent

Markings: JAPAN

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

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