c.1920s Japanese All-Bisque Doll with Wire-Jointed Arms

A c.1920s Japanese all-bisque child doll with moulded hair, hand-painted facial features, fixed body and legs, wire-jointed movable arms and a partially surviving Japanese origin mark.

This small all-bisque doll was manufactured in Japan, most likely during the 1920s, when Japanese manufacturers were producing large numbers of inexpensive bisque dolls and novelty figures for export markets.

The doll is moulded with the head, torso and legs forming a single fixed piece,while the separately moulded bisque arms are attached at the shoulders by wire.This simple form of articulation allowed the arms to move while keeping manufacturing costs relatively low. Comparable Japanese bisque dolls of the 1920s survive with the same combination of a fixed body and wire-attached movable arms.

The face has delicately painted side-glancing dark eyes, fine eyebrows, rosy cheeks and a tiny red pursed mouth. Shallow moulding defines the nose and facial features, while the head has moulded hair picked out in a yellow-blonde painted finish. The slightly stylised, childlike expression is characteristic of many small Japanese character and novelty dolls exported during the inter war period.

The doll's body is anatomically moulded, with the legs held closely together to create a stable standing form. The separately manufactured arms hang naturally beside the body and retain their original metal-wire attachments.

A worn marking survives on the back of the head. From the photograph it appears to bean ink-stamped Japanese origin mark, although deterioration prevents the complete wording from being read with confidence. Examples marked Japan and Made inJapan with wire-attached arms are documented among surviving 1920s dolls.

The doll displays age-related surface and paint wear, particularly around the lower legs and feet, together with scattered small losses to the flesh-coloured finish. However, the bisque body appears substantially intact and, importantly, both original movable arms and their wire attachments survive.

Features

Measurements: 25h x 20w x 10d mm

Condition: Excellent

Markings: JAPAN

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

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Made from the following materials

Country:

Japan

Japan’s history of dolls and toys dates back to 8000 BC with dogu clay figures. From the elegant hina dolls of the Edo period to modern anime-inspired action figures and robotic toys, Japan has mastered the art of blending tradition with cutting-edge innovation.

Produced by:

Product Code:

D0052

Dimenions:

25(h)

x 20(w)

x 10(d)

Produced from:

1920

1929

Markings:

JAPAN