Kewpie doll (toy)
Encyclopedia
Kewpie doll
s and figurines are based on comical strip-like illustrations by Rose O'Neill
that appeared in Ladies' Home Journal
in 1909. The small dolls were extremely popular in the early 1900s. They were first produced in Ohrdruf
, a small town in Germany
, then famous for its toy-manufacturers. They were made out of bisque
and then celluloid
. In 1949, Effanbee created the first hard plastic
versions.
", the Roman
god of beauty and – as Eros is the Greek version of Cupid – erotic love. The early dolls, especially signed or bisque, are highly collectible and worth thousands of dollars. The time capsule
at the 1939 New York World's Fair
contained a Kewpie doll. The term "Kewpie doll" is sometimes mistakenly applied to the troll doll
.
Many other articles were made using their images, for example, coloring
and poem books, cups, plates, curios, etc. The incredible success of these characters made their creator rich and famous. It's a rare example of a woman becoming successful in the media business at such an early date. Kewpies should not be confused with the baby-like Billiken
figures that debuted in 1908.
This particular style of doll was awarded as a carnival prize and often collected.
, a chain of fast-food restaurants originally founded in 1923 in Flint, Michigan
by Samuel V. Blair under the name "Kewpee Hotel Hamburgs".
Since 1914, it has also been the mascot of Hickman High School
in Columbia, Missouri.
Q.P. Corporation is a Japanese food manufacturer, famous for its popular brand of Japanese
mayonnaise sold in plastic squeeze bottles with a Kewpie doll logo.
Doll
A doll is a model of a human being, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have traditionally been used in magic and religious rituals throughout the world, and traditional dolls made of materials like clay and wood are found in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. The earliest documented dolls...
s and figurines are based on comical strip-like illustrations by Rose O'Neill
Rose O'Neill
Rose Cecil O'Neill was an illustrator who created a popular period comic called Kewpie.-Early life:...
that appeared in Ladies' Home Journal
Ladies' Home Journal
Ladies' Home Journal is an American magazine which first appeared on February 16, 1883, and eventually became one of the leading women's magazines of the 20th century in the United States...
in 1909. The small dolls were extremely popular in the early 1900s. They were first produced in Ohrdruf
Ohrdruf
Ohrdruf is a small town in the German federal state of Thuringia. It lies some 30 km southwest of Erfurt.-Medieval settling:Ohrdruf was founded in 724–726 by Saint Boniface, as the site of the first monastery in Thuringia, dedicated to Saint Michael. It was the first of several religious...
, a small town in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, then famous for its toy-manufacturers. They were made out of bisque
Bisque doll
A bisque doll or porcelain doll is a doll made partially or wholly out of bisque porcelain. Bisque dolls are characterized by their realistic, skin-like matte finish. They had their peak of popularity between 1860 and 1900 with French and German dolls. Bisque dolls are collectible, and antique...
and then celluloid
Celluloid
Celluloid is the name of a class of compounds created from nitrocellulose and camphor, plus dyes and other agents. Generally regarded to be the first thermoplastic, it was first created as Parkesine in 1862 and as Xylonite in 1869, before being registered as Celluloid in 1870. Celluloid is...
. In 1949, Effanbee created the first hard plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
versions.
History
Their name, often shortened to "Kewpies", is derived from "cupidCupid
In Roman mythology, Cupid is the god of desire, affection and erotic love. He is the son of the goddess Venus and the god Mars. His Greek counterpart is Eros...
", the Roman
Roman mythology
Roman mythology is the body of traditional stories pertaining to ancient Rome's legendary origins and religious system, as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans...
god of beauty and – as Eros is the Greek version of Cupid – erotic love. The early dolls, especially signed or bisque, are highly collectible and worth thousands of dollars. The time capsule
Time capsule
A time capsule is an historic cache of goods or information, usually intended as a method of communication with future people and to help future archaeologists, anthropologists, or historians...
at the 1939 New York World's Fair
1939 New York World's Fair
The 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
contained a Kewpie doll. The term "Kewpie doll" is sometimes mistakenly applied to the troll doll
Troll doll
Troll dolls, originally known as Leprechauns and also known as Dam dolls, Gonks, Wishniks, Treasure Trolls, and Norfins, became one of America's biggest toy fads from the autumn of 1963 through 1965...
.
Many other articles were made using their images, for example, coloring
Coloring book
A coloring book is a type of book containing line art for a reader to add color using crayons, colored pencils, marker pens, paint or other artistic media...
and poem books, cups, plates, curios, etc. The incredible success of these characters made their creator rich and famous. It's a rare example of a woman becoming successful in the media business at such an early date. Kewpies should not be confused with the baby-like Billiken
Billiken
The Billiken was a charm doll created by an American art teacher and illustrator, Florence Pretz of St. Louis, Missouri, who is said to have seen the mysterious figure in a dream. In 1908, she patented the Billiken, who was elf-like with pointed ears, a mischievous smile and a tuft of hair on his...
figures that debuted in 1908.
This particular style of doll was awarded as a carnival prize and often collected.
Mascots
The Kewpie doll is the mascot of Kewpee HamburgersKewpee
Kewpee Hamburgers is the second known chain of hamburger fast-food restaurants, and was founded in 1923 in Flint, Michigan under the name "Kewpee Hotel Hamburgs". Kewpee's current headquarters is located in Lima, Ohio. The chain is named after the Kewpie doll...
, a chain of fast-food restaurants originally founded in 1923 in Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
by Samuel V. Blair under the name "Kewpee Hotel Hamburgs".
Since 1914, it has also been the mascot of Hickman High School
Hickman High School
David Henry Hickman High School is a coeducational public secondary school in Columbia, Missouri, United States, serving students in grades 10–12. The school is one of three high schools in the Columbia Public School District, with admission based primarily on the locations of students' homes...
in Columbia, Missouri.
Q.P. Corporation is a Japanese food manufacturer, famous for its popular brand of Japanese
Japanese cuisine
Japanese cuisine has developed over the centuries as a result of many political and social changes throughout Japan. The cuisine eventually changed with the advent of the Medieval age which ushered in a shedding of elitism with the age of shogun rule...
mayonnaise sold in plastic squeeze bottles with a Kewpie doll logo.
Further reading
- Kewpies Dolls & Art With Value Guide: Dolls & Art, With Value Guide September 2001, ISBN 978-0-87588-589-6
- Bum Rap In Branson Kewpie dolls and Rose O'Neill play a prominent part in this mystery novel by J.R. Ripley (Glenn MeganckGlenn MeganckGlenn Meganck is a novelist and composer. Born in Michigan, he currently resides in Florida. His most recent novel, George And The Angels, is a work of magic realism and fantasy. Besides his literary works, he has also published a number of genre novels, mostly in the mystery category, under the...
), Beachfront Publishing, 2004, ISBN 978-1-892339-89-8 - Kewpies And Beyond Shelley Armitage, University Press of Mississippi, ISBN 978-0-87805-711-5
External links
- roseoneill.org Official website of the homestead of Rose O'Neill