Doll Item Number: Ed1.127 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Figure representing a person on a flat backing of white paper. Front view is depicted of the figure which is made of cloth lightly padded to give a three-dimensional effect having each portion made of a separate piece of cloth with painted details. Face is made of white silk. Has rouged cheeks. Black hair is in bun (paper backing of headdress now missing). Wearing an elaborate blouse of green silk painted with red, and yellow flowers, and a light red-pink silk ribbon belt over a red, and yellow rosette. The sleeves are very full with multi-coloured stripes at the wrists, concealing the hands. Wearing a red silk floor-length skirt. Two pieces of white flannel hemmed in light red-pink silk are glued to the paper backing.
History Of Use
Figure represents a bride, during the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Status as bride is indicated by red skirt, elaborate clothing, cosmetics, and hair combed in bun at nape of neck, which is first done the night before the wedding. Such figures were made during the time when Korea was first open to the outside world (after the mid 1890s), probably as gifts to present to missionaries or other visitors from foreign countries. Flat dolls like these were very popular during the period 1910-20. Before that time, shamans made dolls that they sold to their clients, as images of those the clients wanted to exorcise. Simple dolls were made of straw for children to play with. After Korea opened, people began to see dolls as artistic objects. They were made in workshops by masters, using authentic fabrics whenever possible, as their purpose was to introduce foreigners to Korean society.
Such clothes, headdress “Hwa-gwan”, and makeup (painted or pasted shapes on forehead and cheeks) might be worn by a bride. They are modeled on court dress worn by princesses. The green upper garment “Won-sam” with rainbow striped “Saek-dong” sleeves are like those worn by princesses, but the sash of a princess would tie in the back, not the front. The upper garment would have floral embroidery, and the ends of the sash would be stamped with gold. Such clothes and ornaments could also be worn by a dancer, as there is a dance that features this kind of robe.
Narrative
Collected by J. H. Morris while he was chief engineer for Seoul Railway, Korea.
Specific Techniques
The clothing was stitched around the edge and then a layer was added inside the clothing. Each section was separately applied and pasted in place. The details were finely painted.
Iconographic Meaning
In the Chosun Dynasty, the red spots on women’s faces symbolized exorcism, the expelling of devils.
Item History
- Made in Korea during 1910
- Collected between 1910 and 1939
- Owned by Marion Stephan before August 1964
- Received from Marion Stephan (Donor) during August 1964
What
- Name
- Doll
- Identification Number
- Ed1.127
- Type of Item
- doll
- Material
- paper, silk fibre, cotton fibre, rayon fibre ?, paint and paste adhesive
- Manufacturing Technique
- spun, woven, cut, painted, sewn and pasted
- Overall
- height 15.3 cm, width 7.7 cm, depth 0.6 cm
Who
- Culture
- Korean
- Previous Owner
- Marion Stephan
- Received from
- Marion Stephan (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Korea
When
- Creation Date
- during 1910
- Collection Date
- between 1910 and 1939
- Ownership Date
- before August 1964
- Acquisition Date
- during August 1964
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 77
- Accession Number
- 0113/0030