Alien Heads or What?

Hi All,
Cleaning out closets and found these. I remember buying them years ago. They are 13 1/2" in height, quite heavy, not plaster, not sure what they are made of. Remnants of tape on the head, maybe for a wig? What do you think they are? Bookends? Too small to display jewelry. Just for decoration? Aliens? Any ideas appreciated!

 

Wig mannequins, I would think.

 

Thanks bakers. I forgot the photo with the hat on - it gives a better idea of the size. I don't think for human wigs, maybe doll wigs?

 

That's a good question. Those must be a lot skinnier heads than I thought from the pictures and the height you gave.

 

Does the underside hold any clues? Can the flesh-tone part be removed from the dark base without busting 'em?

Maybe hair style samples for hair salon display, came in a set with variously-styled wigs. The heads have a rougher surface where wig hair would have been.

 

Nothing underneath, they are one piece, don't come apart.

 

What's the circumference of the head? Measure with a tape measure following the demarcation line that looks pronounced (the rougher surface like Spring said meets the smooth surface) on the back of the head, around just above the ears and across the brow just above the eyebrows.

The Styrofoam heads today following that same path round 20 to 22". I believe a circumference much small than this would not suffice for a wig head. Heads dedicated just for wigs rarely included the "bustier" parts. I have seen narrow elongated head, neck and bust mannequins similar to these in shape used for jewelry display, but hair was painted on them. Most of them were displaying flapper era stuff and such with their eyes wide open in an "It Girl" or "Betty Boop" look.

--- Susan

 

Those are really neat! Me likes
I'm guessing they could be some kind of Deco period store display mannequin bust, but I did quite a bit of searching too and can't really find anything like them. I think you have a great find cxgirl.
I don't think they would be a display for doll head wigs, just because they don't look anything like a girls doll, bwdik.

 

I think she has Asian accents, so I googled for that. I came up with this one, although it has the hair implanted.

Don't know if what they say is correct or not.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/234540745/vintage-1940s-asian-mannequin-head-from?ref=market

 

I'm in the closet with Cluttered! Maybe this is an unfinished (no hair yet) prop or chachkey... chochkee... cczsochky?

 

tchotchke? Or is there an s in there?

 

I do think its to display hats or the like , maybe they made them in a smaller size for display ? Were they mine , Id totally find some miniature hat from a doll or something and display them !

 

Thanks for all the replies folks
Susan, the measurement is 11".

Good point tyledom3.
thanks for the link cluttered. I guess she could look Asian.
Gila I think she is finished, maybe missing a wig. I don't believe she would have had attached hair.
Yes with the right hats they would look pretty cool, although they look great on their own.
Here is a photo next to a pop can to give you a better idea of the size of the head. You can see where the tape was, I assume for holding hair/wig in place.

 

bakers I have added photos to try and give an idea of the size

 

Back in the 60's, there was a hair solon in town that displayed different hairstyles on small heads in the front window. We called it the shrunken head salon. I honestly don't remember what the bases looked like or if they had that Asian look but maybe these were used for that purpose.

 

Well now there are two votes for "shrunken head display in a hair salon!"

A little more support for this theory is the high-quality of the items. They were obviously made to look good for a long time, unlike consumer items that are normally produced as cheaply and quickly as possible.

 

Thanks mill cove, I could see these used like that! I love the idea of a shrunken head salon

 

Well I googled 1940s miniature mannequin heads.
Some I find rather gruesome looking.
https://www.google.com/search?q=min...sch&q=1940s+miniature+mannequin+heads&imgrc=_

I pulled this one up. A later version of yours, plastic not wood. It is only 12 inches high.
http://www.rubylane.com/item/357522-3534/Groovy-mannequin-head-Elder-Beerman-department