Asian Dolls Appraisal

Vintage Asian Figurine Dolls

This lot features two vintage Asian figurine dolls, likely intended as souvenir or novelty items. Both dolls appear to have heads made of a molded composition material, possibly bisque or hard plastic, with hand-painted facial features including dark eyes, defined eyebrows, and small red mouths. Their bodies are constructed with fabric clothing forming the majority of the 'figure' and sitting atop a cylindrical base, which suggests they might be designed as finger puppets or display items. The doll on the left depicts a figure carrying a baby on its back, a common motif in some Asian cultures. This doll wears a green and red patterned tunic-style garment with long sleeves, and a gold-colored sash or scarf around its neck. The baby on its back is small, also appears to be made of composition, and wears a red cap. The main doll has a black, neatly styled hairstyle that appears molded or made from a synthetic fiber. The base of this doll is a teal blue fabric with a thin gold trim. The doll on the right presents a more elaborate costume, featuring a metallic gold headdress adorned with various colored cabochon-style 'jewels' (red, black, green). This doll wears a striking red dress with gold embroidered patterns, possibly depicting a dragon or floral motifs, and a gold patterned trim around the hem. Its arms are visible as light-colored fabric sections, suggesting a soft body construction underneath the main garment. It also has black hair visible beneath the headdress and dangling orange and green 'earrings' or decorative elements. The base of this doll is a solid red fabric with a gold trim. Both dolls exhibit some signs of age and handling, including slight discoloration on the faces and potential minor fraying on the fabric. The overall style suggests mid-20th century production. The craftsmanship is typical of souvenir dolls from that era, focused on capturing cultural attire and motifs.