Featured Asian doll

This much loved doll has been in my family for several generations. Thought the family history placed it around 1900; but the "Made in Japan" impressed into her back has led me to wonder if it was more 1930's. I dug her out after seeing a few posts about dolls recently. I don't know anything about dolls. Any information would be welcome - date, maker, style, etc. I assume she is missing a string, but perhaps it was a metal chain that held her parts together. Roughly 6 in. tall, and picture no. 5 shows the "made in Japan." Any thoughts?

Thank you.

 

Hi LibraryLady! I think you're correct about the era. Poor quality bisque doll from Japan. Probably strung with rolled elastic, or just an elastic band. Probably considered a "souvenir type doll of many nations". I think this is considered "stone" bisque. Unfired bisque, I believe.

Most stone bisque dolls are the "frozen" type......non movable parts.

But wait for other opinions.

 

Judy is spot on with this one.

Your little doll does appear to have been strung with elastic. You can actually see a remnant of it peeking out of the clothing on the right hand side of the 5th picture. It's a really simple task if you would like to restring it and would take about 5 minutes. Knot your elastic and run it through the hole on one arm, pass it through the body, and down through the arm hole on the other side. Pull it really tight and while keeping the tension on the elastic (hemostats are great for this), knot it again. Clip your elastic. Repeat for the legs.

 

Scalpel...hemostat...rubber band...

 

The Americanized face gives the time span away too. I had some of these when I was small. Cute as can be, but they tended to come apart while they were being held. Rather disenheartening, that!

 

Excellent.
@judy - Would you lean towards 1900's or 1930's?

@sassafras - Hadn't thought it would be something I could tackle. I'll be in the O.R, scrubbing up sometime soon.

@silverthwait - hadn't thought out the features. I see what you mean.

Many thanks.

 

Hi Library Lady......I lean towards the 30's.

 

That's how I restring them sassafras .. easy and you can push the knotted end into the dolls body .. 1930'S appear right to me too ... Joy.

 

Oh, I also meant to add that I use thin rolled elastic, run it through the arm .. tie a knot about three inches from the beginning and stuff it into the body, with a crochet hook grab the elastic through the body and bring it out of the other armhole. Undo the knot and run the elastic through the armhole and tighten the whole thing, tie a knot, .. you can push the exposed knot through into the body so it won't show .... Joy.

 

1930's.
Many thanks.