A LITTLE PIECE OF BLUE-AND-WHITE PORCELAIN WITH A PERSONALITY - VINTAGE 1960s CHINESE STYLE HAND-PAINTED DOLL, 30 CM
This little fellow could have stepped straight off a ginger jar. His glossy white porcelain head is hand-painted in deep cobalt blue: big round eyes with sweeping lashes and a bright white highlight, softly arched brows, and a tiny upturned smile that gives him an irresistibly cheeky look. A glazed cobalt topknot cap trimmed with gold rickrack sits on his crown like the lid of a little vase.
He is made in the tradition of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain, the cobalt-on-white ware that has been prized around the world for centuries. Dressed in a traditional round cap, tunic and gathered trousers, he recalls the cheerful "lucky child" figures of Chinese decorative art.
His porcelain boots are each painted with a full cobalt chrysanthemum and trailing leaves, in the same brushwork you'd find on fine blue-and-white china. They are miniature ceramics in their own right.
ABOUT THIS DOLL
He dates from the 1960s, when hand-painted porcelain dolls like this were made for the growing international gift and travel trade. Sixty years on, he has kept his bright colours and his porcelain is still in lovely condition.
WHERE HE'LL SHINE
- On a shelf beside ginger jars, Delft or blue-and-white plates
- In a chinoiserie, grandmillennial or cottage-style interior
- In a doll collection, as a cheerful contrast to bisque and composition dolls
- As a gift for anyone who collects blue-and-white china
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
- Vintage 1960s Chinese-style doll with glazed porcelain head and feet, stuffed cloth body
- Hand-painted cobalt blue face: large eyes with painted lashes and highlights, arched brows, smiling mouth
- Moulded ears with blue painted detail
- Glazed cobalt topknot cap with gold rickrack trim
- Porcelain boots hand-painted with cobalt chrysanthemums and leaves, unglazed soles
- Fabric hands
- Royal blue tunic with printed sash, gathered trousers in navy print with gold and coral, lace-trimmed sleeves, gold rickrack neckline, collar bow
- Stands upright on his porcelain feet for display
MARKS
No maker's marks found.
CONDITION CHECKLIST
We describe all our pieces transparently. Please view all photos as part of the description.
- Porcelain: head and feet in very good condition, no chips or cracks seen
- Glaze: a few tiny dark firing specks on boots and face; small yellowish mark below the mouth; light fine scratches to the cap
- Soles: light soiling to the unglazed bisque
- Hands: fabric lightly toned
- Costume: collar bow slightly frayed at the ends; lace lightly age-toned; otherwise good and bright
MEASUREMENTS
Height: 30 cm (11.8 in)
Width: 12 cm (4.7 in)
ITEM SPECIFICS
Type: Doll
Gender: Boy
Style: Chinese, Chinoiserie
Era: 1960s
Country of Origin: Unknown
Material: Porcelain, Cloth
Colour: Blue, White
Features: Hand-painted face, porcelain head and feet, stuffed cloth body
Original/Reproduction: Vintage Original
CARE NOTE
Porcelain is fragile; handle with care. Keep the costume away from damp.
SHIPPING
We ship worldwide from Provence with full tracking and insurance.
Fragile pieces are carefully double-boxed.