Sometimes -not often- what appears to be a tacky, ethnic costume tourist souvenir figure, hides underneath the starched atrociousness, a doll that’s not only beautifully designed but has a surprising versatility in expression and character. Like this one from the late 50s. She’s around 10 inches tall with a far out, tightly strung, hard plastic, jointed body; gorgeous hand painted facial features and a super photogenic bone structure. Her hair is the typical brittle viscose/mohair treatment, glued and sewn to the head. Everything about her carries a hand made, hand crafted softness and vulnerability, typical of items of a time long gone.

Each one has a slightly different face and thus quite different expression, since they’re hand painted.