Featured any idea who made this composition doll and when?

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by Phaik Hooi, Oct 23, 2017.

  1. Phaik Hooi

    Phaik Hooi Well-Known Member

    dear all

    11" tall + 1" for the pigtail! :)

    i think this doll is probably not made by quan quan company. their dolls seem to have chubbier cheeks. the body and legs are filled with sawdust which leaked out from a hole in one of the legs, hence the bandage. i couldn't find anything similar but i thought the artwork on the face is quite refine? there is a number (732) and chinese character at the bottom of one of the socks, so perhaps it could help identify the maker. i remember shoes but i cannot find hem anywhere :(

    unfortunately there are several chips/cracks on the head and the clothes are torn and worn out.

    tq
    regards
    phaik hooi

    doll front.png doll back.png doll head and neck.png doll right arm.png doll left arm.png doll face and hair closeup.png doll back of head closeup.png clothes front.png clothes back.png
     
  2. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    In spite of the damage it is gorgeous. Great presence, and that smile is so lovely.
    What does the character say, do you read Chinese?
    Maybe @Christmasjoy knows something about your charming doll.
     
  3. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    The self assured smile is quite wonderful, and dolls usually give me the creeps !!
     
  4. Christmasjoy

    Christmasjoy Well-Known Member

    Unfortunately I don't know a great deal about these compo dolls as my dolls are much older. But I do have a few of them and I believe this pretty doll is 1920's to early 30's, based on the neck and sawdust stuffing. By the way, it appears that the neck has been chopped somewhat to make it smaller. She is beautiful in her own way .. enjoy her, that is one lovely smile !! ... Joy.
     
  5. judy

    judy Well-Known Member

    In addition to Joy's observation, I do not think that this doll was made for the American market, but rather to appeal to those of Asian descent.

    I think the style of the hair and the clothing are clues to region, and I've tried to google for similarities, but not having much luck.

    I did find this one that is somewhat similar, but the body is not shown.

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/550351...levant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=galler

    As Joy pointed out, the shoulder has unfinished edges......it's possible that the factory made one size, and cut to fit, and left the edges unfinished.

    Like Joy, I have been collecting (not any longer tho), and I am quite familiar with compo dolls with cloth bodies.

    This doll is not the usual doll of the period that one sees in shops that have large collections of antique dolls.

    I myself am in such a shop, and have seen many dolls come and go.

    Asian dolls appeal to a select few.....much like Asian furniture and accessories here in the States.

    It's all quite beautiful and so unique.

    But to reiterate, perhaps AJ might be able to help with the region the doll represents and you can google dolls from that region....you might get lucky!!:cat:
     
  6. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    I love the 'tourniquet' on her leg!!!!
     
  7. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    It is pretty general Han Chinese, but I think Phaik Hooi knows that better than I do.;)
    Han Chinese are the dominant ethnic group.
    Cross-over closing on one shoulder like this was introduced during the Qing dynasty, which was of Manchurian origin. It is often associated with Shanghai, which is not entirely correct, the origin is Manchurian. Shanghai is further south.
    Traditional Han jackets closed with a straight row centre front, but for centuries the Han have worn both styles, generally favouring the traditional Han style.
    In East Asia little children often had part of their head shaved to avoid lice, etc.
     
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2017
  8. judy

    judy Well-Known Member

    Thank you AJ for your imput. Always so informative.
     
  9. Phaik Hooi

    Phaik Hooi Well-Known Member

    unfortunately i am a chinese who doesn't read chinese :shame:
    and i forgot to post the photo, so here it is. it's not very clear and am now wondering if is just a textile stamp?
    mark on sock.png
     
    yourturntoloveit and Any Jewelry like this.
  10. judy

    judy Well-Known Member

    It might be a part number. The stitching looks hand done.
     
  11. Phaik Hooi

    Phaik Hooi Well-Known Member

    AJ knows more .... i only know it is chinese and the clothes are called samfoo, no idea about region differences :rolleyes::hilarious:
     
  12. Christmasjoy

    Christmasjoy Well-Known Member

    One thing that is drawing my eye to the doll is that it appears to me that the arms have been replaced at some time. If you look at the sideways pic of her you will see some stitching holes there that don't belong, I believe that at one time she had cloth arms to match her body and were replaced when they became worn out, probably from being picked up by them by her loving owner. Anyway, that actually was my first observation, those arms appear to be from a baby doll of the compo era. Could be wrong but I don't think so ... Joy.
     
    yourturntoloveit and Any Jewelry like this.
  13. judy

    judy Well-Known Member

    Joy.....viewing the photos again, is it your opinion that the doll's head is of a much nice quality than the rest of the body?

    Makes me wonder if the are original to one another.
     
    yourturntoloveit and Any Jewelry like this.
  14. Christmasjoy

    Christmasjoy Well-Known Member

    OKAY .. my opinion is that the head and arms belong together, and that a home-made body was used to refurbish and make a whole doll. The shoulder area of the neck was trimmed to size for the body. If you look closely at the lower neck area it is rough on the bottom and one can see a rounded mark where another body was once attatched. I think this was two different dolls at one time .. Joy.
     
    yourturntoloveit and Any Jewelry like this.
  15. Christmasjoy

    Christmasjoy Well-Known Member

    Sorry, I should have said that earlier .. I'm afraid it might hurt someone, or dash their hopes .. I'm not very good at this at all .. Joy.
    But my observation stands.
     
  16. Phaik Hooi

    Phaik Hooi Well-Known Member

    no worries christmasjoy.
    small stuff. honest opinion always welcome.
    truly i learn so much from you all and it's fun, all that digging and searching and discussions.

    on that note, i like the idea of recycled doll parts. there's so much "junk" in my home right now, i am having to think of recycling options all the time :D
    i still haven't managed to find any doll head or arm remotely similar :(
    although i did find another 2 dolls in a box. here they are: one 11" like what i posted and the other is 15". also like the first doll, they have no mark anywhere. i broke a stud button undressing the small one for a photo of the inside but didn't dare to undress him/her further. the big one, i avoided completely :hilarious:

    doll2 for the spruce.png doll2 exposed for the spruce.png doll3 for the spruce.png
     
    Any Jewelry and yourturntoloveit like this.
  17. judy

    judy Well-Known Member

    From your last pictures it would appear that the first doll is in it's original state by visual comparison of the last two.

    Just curious tho, where you found the last two dolls.......in your home? in a store?
     
    Any Jewelry and yourturntoloveit like this.
  18. Phaik Hooi

    Phaik Hooi Well-Known Member

    home. clearing mum's stuff :hungover::hilarious: all the items i posted are mum's, still wondering what to do with them cos these things are mostly considered "junk" in my part of the world, i.e. until they are not ;)
     
  19. judy

    judy Well-Known Member

    Pass them along to other members in the family?:)
     
    Any Jewelry likes this.
  20. Phaik Hooi

    Phaik Hooi Well-Known Member

    if i even dare to try, i am pretty sure i would get the "i am getting junk" look
    :dead::hilarious: ;):D
     
    Any Jewelry likes this.
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