Kewpie
Kewpie dolls and figurines are based on illustrations by Rose O’Neill that appeared in Ladies’ Home Journal in 1909. These illustrations,which incorporated words and pictures with the recurring Kewpie characters, are considered to be early versions of the comic strip medium. The small dolls were extremely popular in the early 1900s. They were first made out of bisque and then celluloid. In 1949, Effanbee created the first hard plastic versions.
Their name, often shortened to “Kewpies”, in fact is derived from “cupid”, the Roman god [1]. 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, like 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.
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ANTIQUE GOLD TONED METAL KEWPIE WAX SEAL US $99.50 End Date: Thursday Mar-18-2010 12:21:00 PDT |
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KEWPIE by Rosie ONeill US $75.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Mar-18-2010 14:04:06 PDT |
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UNIQUE ROSE O'NEILL KEWPIE - JAPAN DOLL 12 INCHES TALL US $75.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Mar-18-2010 17:30:13 PDT |
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RARE ANTIQUE 1913 GOLD SEAL PLASTER KEWPIE THE THINKER US $150.00 End Date: Friday Mar-19-2010 11:23:58 PDT |
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1990..JESCO 12PC SET KEWPIE FIGURINES..ARTIST,BALLERINA US $59.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Friday Mar-19-2010 17:55:25 PDT |
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Framed Collection of Kewpie Charms Nevins Estate US $99.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Mar-20-2010 15:49:53 PDT |
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NEW IN BOX "100 YEARS OF KEWPIE" US $75.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-21-2010 13:47:05 PDT |
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Antique Kewpie Doll Bisque 13"all jointed Rose Oniell US $195.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-21-2010 13:54:47 PDT |
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EXTREMELY RARE KEWPIE BRIDE AND GROOM HUGGERS ALL ORIG. US $99.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-21-2010 18:10:07 PDT |
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KEWPIE SANTA CLAUS IS CELLULOID PLASTIC JAPAN US $75.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-21-2010 20:35:30 PDT |
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ROSE O'NEILL "THINKER" KEWPIE DOLL. SIGNED- RARE US $69.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-21-2010 20:53:39 PDT |
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ROSE O'NEILL KEWPIE- signed w/paper label- Bisque US $59.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-21-2010 23:16:07 PDT |
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ROSE O'NEILL KEWPIE- signed w/paper label- Bisque US $59.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-21-2010 23:40:49 PDT |
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Danbury Mint 30" Kewpie Doll US $195.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Mar-22-2010 13:14:15 PDT |
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ROSE O'NEILL KEWPIE- signed w/paper label- Bisque -8 " US $59.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Mar-22-2010 14:27:43 PDT |
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KEWPIE Doll 12" US $1,700.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Mar-22-2010 15:42:09 PDT |
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Klassic Kewpie by R. John Wright US $250.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Mar-22-2010 18:02:55 PDT |
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Action Kewpie Riding Goat Rose O'Neill German Unmarked US $79.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Mar-22-2010 18:06:34 PDT |
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Adorable GERMAN BISQUE Kewpie DOLL c1910-1920 US $75.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Mar-22-2010 18:54:32 PDT |
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ANTIQUE KEWPIE LEAD WEIGHT OR WAX SEAL US $99.50 End Date: Tuesday Mar-23-2010 13:32:32 PDT |
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ALL COMPOSITION KEWPIE DOLL 13" US $120.00 End Date: Tuesday Mar-23-2010 17:35:00 PDT |
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2" VINTAGE ROSE O"NEILL KEWPIE DOLL WITH MANDOLIN US $125.00 End Date: Tuesday Mar-23-2010 19:14:01 PDT |
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2" VINTAGE ROSE O'NEILL KEWPIE DOLL WITH PEN US $215.00 End Date: Tuesday Mar-23-2010 19:21:33 PDT |
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VINTAGE 3.5" ROSE O'NEILL KEWPIE TRAVELER WITH TAGS US $215.00 End Date: Tuesday Mar-23-2010 19:39:08 PDT |
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1915 Original Kewpie Doll Porcelain - 14121 US $150.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-24-2010 10:07:43 PDT |
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CECILIA ROSE KEWPIE PORCELAIN 21 INCH LTD ED DOLL NEW US $149.99 End Date: Wednesday Mar-24-2010 11:44:12 PDT |
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Original Rose O'Neill Kewpie doll signed composition US $299.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-24-2010 12:47:36 PDT |
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German Bisque Rose O'Neill Kewpie Huggers 1913 US $195.00 End Date: Wednesday Mar-24-2010 13:20:34 PDT |
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German Bisque Rose O'Neill Kewpie Ca. 1913 In Orig. Box US $395.00 End Date: Wednesday Mar-24-2010 13:21:37 PDT |
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Hand Painted Rose O'Neill Kewpie Germany Plate Prussia US $95.00 End Date: Wednesday Mar-24-2010 13:22:21 PDT |
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CUPIE DOLL VERY OLD PERFECT SHAPE 7 INCHES TALL US $69.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-24-2010 14:32:25 PDT |
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CUPIE DOLL PERFECT SHAPE BY JESCO 1991 4 INCHES US $69.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-24-2010 14:33:47 PDT |
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Three adorable Kewpies 11 ½ Jesco 1987 and 11 ½ Cameo US $59.99 End Date: Wednesday Mar-24-2010 16:24:19 PDT |
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KEWPIE DOLL - DATED 1913 US $125.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Mar-27-2010 7:22:26 PDT |
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Kewpie Cupie Doll Rose O'Neill Porcelain Bisque Vintage US $199.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Mar-27-2010 17:42:41 PDT |
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KEWPIE DOLL *GOING TO THE CHAPPEL* 8" VINYL RETIRED US $53.95 End Date: Sunday Mar-28-2010 17:45:16 PDT |
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Kewpie Bell Hop *NEW* US $65.59 End Date: Monday Mar-29-2010 19:43:16 PDT |
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KEWPIE DOLLS FIGURINE BISQUE HUGGING BABIES KEWPIE US $139.99 End Date: Tuesday Mar-30-2010 6:54:33 PDT |
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ANTIQUE Kewpie DOLL with WIG 15 INCHES US $125.00 End Date: Tuesday Mar-30-2010 13:34:58 PDT |
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Kewpie Chalkware Doll Bank 11" Chicago, IL 1966 US $69.99 End Date: Thursday Apr-01-2010 10:35:51 PDT |
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KEWPIE DOLL *GOING TO THE CHAPPEL* 8" VINYL RETIRED US $59.95 End Date: Thursday Apr-01-2010 17:13:57 PDT |
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KEWPIE 12" COMPOSITION - ESQUE GIGGLES DOLL COA NIB US $57.99 End Date: Thursday Apr-01-2010 20:58:08 PDT |
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6" Kewpie All Bisque Germany Rose O'Neill US $295.00 End Date: Friday Apr-02-2010 17:31:35 PDT |
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German ~ Kewpie Clock ~ by Rose O'Neill US $475.00 End Date: Sunday Apr-04-2010 8:57:26 PDT |
Thanks to Wikipedia for the explanation.