Chinese Door of Hope Mission Doll: Policeman

Chinese: Folk Art: Dolls and Puppets Pre 1920: item #1029523
4B-003A9

This rare premium character Chinese Door of Hope doll, which represents a uniformed policeman, dates to ca. 1920. He is dressed in black cotton trousers tucked into black satin boots with blue cotton soles, and he wears a double-breasted black cotton jacket with matching belt over a white cotton undergarment. His jacket has brass buttons and white embroidered insignias and is lined with blue cotton. He has a long and finely carved pear wood head with carved and painted black eyes, painted black ... Click for details

Chinese Door of Hope Mission Dolls: Amah and Baby

Chinese: Folk Art: Dolls and Puppets Pre 1920: item #1001639
4B-002

This set of dolls, a Cantonese Amah carrying a Baby on her back, is one of the more sought-after Door of Hope doll characters when found together as a pair. Early 20th century. Both dolls have finely carved pear wood heads, carved and painted black eyes, well-detailed ears and wonderfully expressive faces which are characteristic of the Door of Hope doll genre.

The Amah (nursemaid) is dressed in a simple white cotton... Click for details

Chinese Door of Hope Mission Doll: Buddhist Monk

Chinese: Folk Art: Dolls and Puppets Pre 1920: item #974196
4B-001

This rare Door of Hope doll represents a Buddhist priest or monk who is dressed in a long coarse “saffron” muslin coat with three frog closures. Ca. 1920. Beneath his muted light olive green-colored cotton outer coat, he wears blue cotton trousers and a blue cotton inner robe layered over another robe made of white cotton. His carved head is “shaved” – he has no painted hair like other male Door of Hope doll characters. In addition, his bald head has rows of indentations on top to represent the ... Click for details

Fine Pair Door of Hope Mission Dolls: Bride and Groom

Chinese: Folk Art: Dolls and Puppets Pre 1930: item #953690
DJ-001

Always among the most coveted and valuable of the Chinese “Door of Hope” mission dolls are the Bride and Bridegroom. This pair, in incredibly pristine condition, dates to ca. 1930. Both dolls have finely carved pear wood heads and hands, carved and painted black eyes, closed smiling mouths and well-detailed carved ears. The bride is dressed in a red silk pao top, all hand embroidered with flowers and gold trim. The underside of the back of the Bride’s pao top still retains the original “Kimport ... Click for details

Large and Old Chinese Puppet in Beautiful Costume

Chinese: Folk Art: Dolls and Puppets Pre 1900: item #899364
R277

A large and old Chinese Puppet Doll in the beautiful embroidered attire of a Southern Chinese minority tribe. Height: 26 inches, 66 cm.

Old and Fine Chinese Opera Puppet Head

Chinese: Folk Art: Dolls and Puppets Pre 1900: item #871274
007k

Old and Fine Chinese Opera Puppet Head, mounted, 15 inches, 38 cm tall, from a renowned and published collection.

Chinese Door of Hope Mission Doll: Traditional Bride

Chinese: Folk Art: Dolls and Puppets Pre 1920: item #846211
4B-02

Always among the most coveted and valuable of the Chinese “Door of Hope” mission dolls is the Traditional Bride. This doll, in pristine condition, dates to ca. 1920. She is dressed all in red with a red silk pao top embroidered with flowers and gold trim. The side-pleated red silk skirt is embroidered in flowers, with beaded tassels hanging down the sides. Her elaborate headdress, with a red veil in place over the face, is heavily beaded, and she carries a red handkerchief with an embroidered ed... Click for details

Chinese Door of Hope Mission Doll: Widow

Chinese: Folk Art: Dolls and Puppets Pre 1920: item #446776
4-238

A most unusual Door of Hope Doll character is the Widow, and this one dates to ca. 1920. She is wearing unbleached muslin trousers, skirt and jacket, covered by a long-sleeved, 3/4 length front-fastened coarse outer "sackcloth" jacket with a straw belt tied around the waist. She wears a muslin-lined hood that covers her head and shoulders. Her bound foot shoes are also muslin. She has finely carved pear wood head and hands, carved and painted black eyes, painted black hair, well-detailed carved ... Click for details

Chinese Door of Hope Mission Doll: Mourner

Chinese: Folk Art: Dolls and Puppets Pre 1920: item #181779
4-214

This rare Door of Hope doll, which represents a mourner dressed to attend a funeral procession, dates to ca. 1920. He is clothed in a long natural colored “sack cloth” outer robe of loosely woven hemp, which is tied with straw rope. Underneath, he wears a coarse unbleached muslin pao robe over leggings and muslin shoes. He has finely carved pear wood head and hands, carved and painted black eyes, painted black hair, well-detailed carved ears, and a closed mouth with an enigmatic smile. His tall ... Click for details

Chinese Door of Hope Mission Doll: Farmer

Chinese: Folk Art: Dolls and Puppets Pre 1920: item #177238
4-216

This Farmer is one of the rarer Door of Hope doll characters, and this one dates to ca. 1920. He's dressed in hand-stitched blue cotton calf-length trousers and a matching jacket. These are covered by Chinese-style rainwear of a straw skirt and cape, and his wide-brimmed hat is made of woven straw. He has finely carved pear wood head and hands, carved and painted black eyes, painted black hair, well-detailed carved ears, and a closed mouth with an enigmatic smile. His hair is carved with a bra... Click for details