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
An early Edo period Japanese porcelain Kakiemon covered bowl. The bowl is decorated in overglaze enamels in the classic soft blue and greens with rust red colored flowers. On the lid there are three reddish gold fish encircling green underwater plants. We believe the base of the piece to be of 16th century origin with a much later replacement lid. The covered bowl measures 5 ¼” diameter and is 2” to the top of the lid’s finial. Excellent condition two small rim chips on the lid. The foot rim is... Click for details
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
Always among the most coveted and valuable of the Chinese “Door of Hope” mission dolls is the Traditional Bride. This doll, in incredibly 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 emb... Click for details
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
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
Always among the most coveted and valuable of the Chinese “Door of Hope” mission dolls are the Traditional Bride and Bridegroom. This pair, in incredibly pristine condition, dates to ca. 1920. 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 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... Click for details
