Posted 9 years ago
mareredware
(177 items)
Dad brought these home from the war. One is an American GI and the other is a British GI. Their clothing has been lost over the years and their little feet are torn in spots. The bisque? heads with attached helmets are intact. I've not seen any like them and I have searched. Would love any information on these guys.
More photos of American soldier today. I believe he originally had a parachute. His body is stuffed with a straw like substance. Head and hands are bisque? Arms and legs are attached with buttons and wire.
Joe and Tommy hanging out at the bath house! hehe
I have two of these dolls, one exactly like yours on the right, and a female companion, who also has a similar mirthful large smiling face. These dolls were made by Unica, a Belgian toy company in 1946. They were made in large quantities at the time, though the females are more common, to commemorate the liberation Belgium from German occupation just after WW2. In saying that they were made in mass quantities, personally, there doesn't seem to be too many popping up. I've seen the same version of the male only once, and I know there's two other females. The one on the left is interesting-do you have a closer shot? The heads and hands are made of a composition type of material. I'd call it biscaloid. Bodies are cloth, the males were a military uniform. Mine male example is all original with all his clothing. The females usually wear a Belgian regional costume. The males have molded helmets, the females have molded hair. Both are identifiable by their amusing smiles. Hope that helps you, I'll try and put up mine sometime soon.
Great information, chinaheads, thank you.
Thanks much, chinaheads! I will post some more photos soon. I assumed dad brought these dolls home. He did maintain friendships with several people he met while stationed overseas. It is possible someone sent them to him. I look forward to seeing your dolls. Very happy to have info on this pair!
No worries Katherine and mareredware. If you're interested, I've posted a shot of my Unica dolls, a male and a female. If you go to my profile and see my postings, you'll find it. Cheers.
Thanks for adding more photos. I'm in love with the other one with the pencil mustache!!! He's amazing. The other, like mine, is fantastic too. So good to see others out there, and to learn there's another version. Thanks.
chinaheads, I am so glad I posted these guys. I took them to a shop years ago and the owner had never seen any like them. That was before the wonders of the internet. Thanks to you, I now know more about these guys and continue to search for even more like them! Have a nice day!
See Dolls-Show and Tell-and Military and Wartime -and Show and Tell