Historic Treasure of the Week - January 9, 2000
By Helen F. Mitchell
Vigo County Historical Society
Kewpie doll begins with dream, ends in reality
Historic Treasure of the Week -
January 9, 2000
By Helen F. Mitchell
Vigo County Historical Society
Kewpie doll begins with dream, ends in reality
The subject of the historical treasure for this week is the beloved Kewpie doll, created in 1909 by Rose O’Neill as a character in a story.
O’Neill, artist/author/illustrator in the first half of the 20th century, had a dream one night in which little elfin figures were climbing and capering all over the covers of her bed.
When she woke, they were gone but the memory was so vivid that she immediately began to draw one figure after another from her dream. As she drew, she made up a conversation that she turned into a series of stories called “Kewpie Capers” and later, “Kewpie Cutouts.”
The pictures were so enjoyable that they were published in the major women’s magazines of the period--Ladies Home Journal, Woman’s Home Companion and Delineator--until 1928.
In 1912 the public was asking for a three-dimensional doll that would be nice to hold or set somewhere where it would be seen all of the time and the Kewpie met these requirements.
Through the years the Kewpie has been made of many materials and in many sizes but the mold has not been altered. The first bisque dolls and figurines (like the one in the picture) were made in Germany and produced in large numbers.
Rose O’Neill traveled to Europe several times to give advice about the production of the Kewpie. She told the factory managers that the little children wanted the Kewpie to be smooth and like the pictures.
The Kewpie can always be recognized by its cherubic body
with a fat tummy, star shaped hands, topknot, side-glancing eyes and little blue
wings. Kewpies are now made in hard and soft plastics, cloth and bisque like the
early ones. Some celluloid ones can still be found.
The place to look for older Kewpies is at estate auctions, antique shops and
even at yard sales.
The paper dolls and magazine pages are usually purchased from a long-time collector. Newer reproduction Kewpies also are available at card and gift shops, and through catalogs.
Rose O’Neill produced many other forms of art including paintings and sculptures and wrote several books but the Kewpie was her source of wealth. She spent most of her money to help struggling young art students and her family.. When she died in April 1944, she left very little wealth.
O’Neill lived near Branson, Mo., and in April of each year the town celebrates with a festival, The Kewpiesta, which attracts hundreds of Kewpie enthusiasts and collectors, and Kewpies are everywhere!
The Kewpie, with its habit of doing good deeds, should fit right into the 21st century so that future generations can enjoy this elfin-like, happy little creature.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.