As noted previously on this blog, the Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, falls on Friday, February 12th. This 18-inch tall Simon and Halbig character doll by Simon and Halbig is mold 1329 and doll wears an antique costume typical of an upper class Manchu woman of the Chinese Qing dynasty. The bisque head has a soft olive complexion and brown almond-shaped sleep eyes. Her ball-jointed composition body matches her head's skin tone. This mold can be found dressed various Asian costumes, such as Chinese, Japanese, and Burmese. The original outfits are often detailed and of silk and other fine materials. Many of these dolls were sent to France, where they were dressed in authentic costumes for exhibit. The Manchu, a Chinese ethnic minority originating from Manchuria, established the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China from 1644 through 1911. They retained elements of their original culture, including the style of dress. Her long loose gown is called a qipao. The elaborate embroidery would indicate a woman's rank and status. The headdress is a replacement, but is made of antique materials.
Manchu women did not bind their feet. Upper class women wore tall platform shoes with a base shaped like a flower pot or horse’s hoof, so the shoes are sometimes referred to as “pot-bottom” or “horse-hoofed." The upper part of the shoe was adorned with embroidery and, for the wealthy or noble ranks, jade and other precious stones. The shoes were considered to gave Manchu women a tall and regal stance.
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