Kewpie

This is a Kewpie Doll.  They were created by Rose O'Neill, who in 1909 made a comic strip featuring this little character.  The dolls came soon after, in 1912, when the comic strip became popular.  The name Kewpie came from Cupid.  An authentic Kewpie always has tiny blue wings on its shoulders.  These dolls were extremely popular carnival prizes during the first half of the 1900s.  These days, an Asian Food company makes Kewpie Mayonnaise.

Carol loved Kewpies.  She collected them, sold and traded them.  This one was her favorite. She had this in her French cabinet ever since I can remember.  Look on top of its head and you will see a  bobby pin holding a curl of golden hair.  This is Carol's hair.  She always put locks of her hair on the dolls.  Even when she sold them, they usually went to their new home with her hair on their head.  Yes, it was weird. And it seems even weirder that I still have this odd little doll, now that I think about it.