Featured Chinese medicine doll ? makers mark help and age please

Good evening everyone, I hope you are all enjoying the holidays and keeping safe.

I have a couple of Chinese medicine dolls that I would be interested to find some information about if anyone can help ?

The first one has a makers mark / signature to the foot but I have no idea what it says or who the maker is.

I believe these where used by Chinese upper class women when visiting the doctir and I believe some where made for the tourist trade at a later date.

I have a few pieces I would like some help with that I will listing over the next few days for your viewing pleasure.

Any help would be very much appreciated .

Thank you

Kindest regards
Brett

 

This one looks newer, what's it made of?

 

it has the look of an ivory tooth....

 

I am really unable to tell at the moment, my magnifying glass isn't strong enough and the only lines I can see are those in the 4th picture along her back. It feel cold to the touch and does not appear to glow "Blue under black light" It weighs in at 24g. I thought it might be porcelain but would it be solid if it was ?

Also its signed, so someone must have been happy to have their mark on it ?

Thank again for all your help

Kind regards
Brett

 

I can't help with the signature.

On the back, where her hand meets her hair, the texture looks almost granular. Is that a trick of the photo, or does it really look like that? If so, perhaps it is made of walrus tusk, which has a granular texture inside near the base of the tooth.

 

I agree, it isn't very old. Charming nonetheless.
Just wondering, could it be celluloid?

Doctors had them in their office, and women could point out the part of the body where their complaint was, so they didn't have to undress (modesty).

 

Alice has just told me this. How the heck does an eight year old know about Chinese medicine dolls?. She knew about it very sweetly that ladies maybe didn’t want to show their bodies to doctors. All in the correct context too not just about her dolls or anything worrying.

 

Your Alice is amazing in many ways.

 

Thank you for all your thoughts. When you say not old would anyone be able to give a rough estimate of age please ?

I ran it under hot water to see if it smelled of camphor but it doesn’t seem to give off any smell.

I’ve attached some close ups. She seems to have a crack running up her back and one across her wrist.

I bought it from the US many years ago from an antique dealer near Jacksonville. The story with it ( because I always ask if there is any history) was that there was a small town called Chinese town there during the gold rush and it may well have come from there, but that may just be fantasy story, who knows !

Thanks again
Kind regards
TF

 

Does Alice have access to the internet? Do her friends have access to the internet?

When we were growing up most of us had to look stuff up in encyclopedias or go to the library. Now all they have to do is turn on their phone, tablet, or laptop to find out anything they want to know about. Maybe one of her friends has a family member who collects antiques & has one of these dolls.

 

Yes she does and is an avid follower of horrible histories programmes which are historically accurate but produced for children albeit with the gruesome bits included!.
If anyone isn’t familiar with them they don’t shy away from almost any historical figure and they manage to make them very amusing even for adults. I suspect that’s where she knows about it from but I’ll ask her tomorrow.
They did excellent ones on Coco Chanel, the suffragette movement, Rosa Parks etc as well as the kings,queens,wars etc. I have to admit I’ve learned far more from those than from any history lessons I’ve ever had!.

 

I think its just the photo giving that impression. I've had a good look today and can't see any granular effect. Thanks for the idea though, never thought to look at teeth.

Kind regards
TF

 

Here she is under uv light. The second photo is a plastic ruler. If they help

Kindest regards
TF

 

Children are much more sophisticated than we were when we were growing up which I contend is not always such a good thing. However, it is a fact & I don't think there is much we can do about it all.

Of course, it is likely that our parent's generations thought the same of those of us who grew up in the 60's & 70's. I am sure they thought that rock music, free love & feminism was going to be the downfall of society.

I look at my own GD who I tell everyone is 13 going on 20 but I think in a way it is sad to have lost some of the innocence of childhood.

I just have to trust that somehow both my GD & Alice will grow to be happy, productive, secure adult women.

 

Evening all, I hope you are all keeping safe and well. Just thought I would show you some pictures of this medicine doll under a microscope. If you look closely you should be able to see the lines / grain / carving marks. Am I write in saying then this is possibly fish bone ? a tooth or ivory and not plastic or celluloid ? Any thoughts gratefully received.

Thank you
Kindest regards
TF