Sailor Moon, 8 in., is based on a Japanese manga style series about a teenage school heroine. On her back and clothing tag, she is marked “CLAMP et al Trendmasters 2000 China.” This is a play doll made of very pliable vinyl. Under her hat two small pigtails are tied with red beads. Her tiny mouth is just a small cut under her nose. She wears a backpack.
My son brought this 18 in. folk doll back from China circa 1985. She is made of hollow, pliable vinyl. The face is beautifully painted and her hair is drawn back into a partial pigtail that hangs below her waist. A little girl would love to play with her.
This collection of dolls from Japan started with the two on the right brought back on business trips by my husband and son. I added the other dolls and items locally. They are artistic creations not meant for play and are dressed in traditional kimonos that go back many centuries.
Effanbee, a doll maker since 1910, made an International Series in 1994, using their 8.5 in. L’il Innocence doll. It has a sweet face with sleep eyes, is fully jointed, and represents Spain.
Here are two 8 in. Alexanderkins by Mme. Alexander. The doll on the right is tagged Netherlands (1973) and the other is tagged Jamaica (1986-1988).
These 12 in. vinyl M. I. Hummel dolls were made by Goebel in Germany, 1960-1972. My daughter found them second hand without shoes and socks. The girl, Little Shopper, is missing her original basket and apron. Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel was a Franciscan Nun, born 1909 in Bavaria. She had artistic talent and attended Munich Academy of Art. Franz Goebel made an agreement to manufacture figurines adapted from her drawings of happy children. She died in 1946 but the figurines continued to be made followed by dolls in 1949.
Japanese Doll
I found this 8 in. doll from Japan in Woolworth’s during the 1950’s. The doll is jointed vinyl. The face with glass inset eyes has a smooth coating containing powdered eggshells. I was astonished to find it in the five and dime and at a bargain price.
The Japanese company Takara made this 1985 11 in. Barbie (on right) under license from Mattel. She is fully jointed with bendable arms and legs, light brown hair, brown eyes, and a Japanese animee face. Everyday Kimono describes her outfit. The second Takara doll, Jenny, was made 1981-1987. She is the same size and construction as the Barbie. Her box was labeled Jenny’s Club as there were six other dolls in the series, all bendable for posing.
