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A pearl of a girl

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mikelv85's loves13435 of 27449Silver and lapis lazuli hook earringsJapanese enamelled decanter and glasses
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    Posted 8 years ago

    racer4four
    (619 items)

    This beautiful girl arrived recently from Japan.

    She has been made with a pearlescent plastic head and what appears to be a pearlescent plastic core. Her face and hair have been painted on.

    Her dress has been made by threading together pearls of different sizes. He earrings and hair band are also pearl.

    The seller advertised her as being made from cultured pearls and there was a bit of bidding on her. Her final price was not expensive and even with post to Aus I am not feeling like I spent lots on her.

    My question is: are they pearls or not?
    I have looked at them through a loupe and there seems to be an unevenness to them that would not be on false pearls. I am not knowledgeable about pearls so if anyone is able to help here I would be grateful.

    She is very pretty no matter the origins of her pearl dress and so different to other dolls.

    Height: 28cm (11in) including base

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    Comments

    1. vetraio50 vetraio50, 8 years ago
      They are cleverly graded over the form .... Curvaceous !!!
    2. kyratango kyratango, 8 years ago
      What a girlie! Pearls are girl's best friends too :-)
      Easy test for pearls is to gently rub one against your (own, not denture!) front tooth edge: if feeling gritty, pearl (natural or cultured, salt water or freshwater) !
      If smooth, coated glass or glass filled with nacreous material!

      Tell us what you found :-)
    3. kyratango kyratango, 8 years ago
      Uh, not I supposed you have only one front tooth... not even a denture... only to precise, LOL
    4. racer4four racer4four, 8 years ago
      Lol - I have my own two front teeth Kyra!
      I rubbed diligently and they felt rough. Maybe the seller was truthful!
      Thanks for the help.
    5. racer4four racer4four, 8 years ago
      Thanks Kevin...they have graded them well. If they really are pearls imagine the selection of them needed to make her form.
      She's a sexy, sassy lady!!
    6. mikelv85 mikelv85, 8 years ago
      Now here's something you don't see everyday that's for sure ! Quite beautiful and unusual . :)
    7. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      This is adorable~!!!
    8. AnnaB AnnaB, 8 years ago
      Karen, what a cutie she is! An eye candy =)

      Kyra, yes, i know of this test, too, and check all my pearls only this way. The real ones almost feel like you are rubbing your teeth against sand paper, and the fake ones... well, you've said it, smooth and gliding. Works every time =)
    9. sklo42 sklo42, 8 years ago
      Elegance personified.....or perhaps dollified!
    10. MyFavoriteTreasures MyFavoriteTreasures, 8 years ago
      Geez this is such a draw! I just keep getting pulled in for additional glances! I'd make this my avatar!
    11. Celiene Celiene, 8 years ago
      Whimsey. That's all I can think of - she's a little whimsey! Her sole purpose is to be incredibly cute! What does the sticker at her feet say?
    12. Celiene Celiene, 8 years ago
      It's a Pearl Kokeshi doll. She's spectacular. Here's a website with a few - but NONE as spectacular as she!

      http://www.soulportals.com/kokeshi/Albums/Mixed%20Media%20Kokeshi/index.html
    13. Celiene Celiene, 8 years ago
      Oh my - the history of Kokeshi is pretty - um - brutal? I would DEFINITELY send a pic to a Japanese expert on that little cutie.

      Here's a good (and more pleasant) page! I love crazy, wacky Japan. There are 11 schools of traditional Kokeshi! (Listed here)

      http://sekaikokeshi.com/blog/kokeshidolls/history-japanese-traditional-kokeshi-dolls/
    14. antiquerose antiquerose, 8 years ago
      Now isn't that the Sweetest thing!! I love it Karen !!
    15. martika martika, 8 years ago
      She is a little cutie.... Sweet
    16. NevadaBlades, 8 years ago
      Looks like all the adjectives have been used already, so I'll just say LOVE IT! [;>)
    17. racer4four racer4four, 8 years ago
      I have put Pearl Girl on a few groups and the consensus is that the pearls are definitely cultured. Apparently the dolls were made as tourist items from Mikimoto Island.
    18. racer4four racer4four, 8 years ago
      Thanks Mike! She is different.

      Thanks Bonnie. I agree, I adore her too!
    19. racer4four racer4four, 8 years ago
      Anna - the test worked for me but I second guess myself. Now I am sure she is real pearl I have a datum to work from when testing other pearls. Thanks !
    20. racer4four racer4four, 8 years ago
      Celiene I have put and have had feedback. her up on Soulportal's FB group and have had feedback which is great.
      Soulportal's Kokeshi site (your 1st link) is a marvellous resource and she is very generous with her knowledge.
      The second link you gave is fantastic - thanks for that and your comments!
    21. racer4four racer4four, 8 years ago
      Rose, Martika, Ken and Blade - thanks so much guys for the outstanding love!!!
    22. courtenayantiques courtenayantiques, 8 years ago
      Love this Pearl Girl! I've not seen one of these before, those links are very interesting!
    23. katherinescollections katherinescollections, 8 years ago
      Oh wow. Just when I think you can't find anything more beautiful to post, here comes this absolutely astounding figurine!!!!!! To be perfectly frank, I don't have it in me to appreciate Kokeshi as I should, that's a deficiency in my tastebuds, I guess. But this, this is spectacular, just spectacular in every way. Whoever created this is a master of his art form. The beautiful coloring, the delicate painting of the face and hair, the way the pearls were selected and used to form that lovely form, so perfectly posed. Whatever you paid for her, she was worth it. :)

      BTW, you're killing me, you know. I've added so many things to my gotta have it wish list from your postings, LOL!! :))
    24. katherinescollections katherinescollections, 8 years ago
      This is another cute one, the mermaid:

      http://www.soulportals.com/kokeshi/Albums/Mixed%20Media%20Kokeshi/index.html#Mermaid%20Pearl%20Kokeshi.jpg
    25. racer4four racer4four, 8 years ago
      I love this one so much myself Katherine - I look at her daily and feel good.
      I have talked to a few sources and have seen photos of workers at Mikimoto Island making these for the tourist trade in the 1950s and 60s....that is where Soulportal's girls came from too.
      I think this girl is special, I have not seen others with so many pearls.
      I have lists of wants as long as my arm......but am pretty happy with what I have too!
      Thanks mate
    26. katherinescollections katherinescollections, 8 years ago
      Yes, so am I, happy with what I have. My friends have a lot to do with that. :)
    27. Budek Budek, 8 years ago
      It's so beautiful, Efesgirl, a happy find that found a good home with you!
    28. katherinescollections katherinescollections, 8 years ago
      It's racer4four's figurine, Budek. :)
    29. yonsei_from_hawaii, 8 years ago
      I have this exact figurine, inherited from my grandmother. When visiting her house in Hawaii, my cousins and I always called her "the pearl lady." I found this post while searching for its origins. I would love to hear more about how you found it, and try to track down its true origins!
    30. racer4four racer4four, 8 years ago
      Yonsei what I have established is this:
      These were made as tourist items on Mikimoto Island in Japan in the 1950s.
      They were hand made and used the cultured pearls farmed around the island.
      There appears to have been many variations of these dolls and they have more or less pearls depending on style.
      I feel very lucky to have mine which I bought online direct from Japan.
      I hope you enjoy your grandmother's.

    31. yonsei_from_hawaii, 7 years ago
      Racer4four, I am hoping you can help me. My beloved "Pearl Lady" (identical to this one) was stolen when my house was robbed recently. My insurance company will pay for the replacement cost. Would you be willing to share what you paid for it? I have no idea what value to claim, and I haven't been able to find anything similar listed for sale anywhere. I'm hoping if I tell them what someone paid for this exact item, I can claim that as the value. Keeping my fingers crossed! I'm so grateful that I found your post, or I never would have known the origin from Mikimoto Island.
    32. racer4four racer4four, 7 years ago
      Oh Yonsei I am so sorry to hear that!
      I paid 10000yen all up for my girl and believe I got an absolute bargain. I have seen similar on Yahoo Japan (their Ebay) going for twice that.
      That would equate to a bit over $US100 I paid, but I think true replacement would actually be twice that. I hope this helps a bit!
      She is very unusual and rare, so hopefully she is found. I would take some photos around to your local pawn shops and also keep your eye out on sale sites.
      I hope you recover her as much because she was a family heirloom as anything.
    33. yonsei_from_hawaii, 7 years ago
      Thank you so much for your reply! I have been checking our sale sites like Craigslist obsessively. I so appreciate hearing back from you.
    34. bijoucaillouvintage bijoucaillouvintage, 7 years ago
      How did I miss that one! Love it!
    35. racer4four racer4four, 7 years ago
      She's gorgeous I agree Bijou.....I'm glad you found her and thanks for the love.
    36. MrsKirk72, 3 months ago
      Hi. I have tge same doll. It is Mikimoto pearls. My dad bought it for his mum but I am not sure of date - around 1950s to 1960s.
      Unfortunately mine lost the topknot in transit which decreases value.
      I suggest you see if Mikimoto pearl company has more information.

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