The model
From what I understand, these were the kewpie dolls of their day - rather than winning a stuffed purple monkey, a Guns N Roses mirror, or a goldfish, the winner of a carnival game arount the 1890s could win a bust. They were considered cheap trinkets, just like everything at carnivals today, resulting in many of them being thrown away, repainted, or even gilded (I'm waiting to see my first gilded purple monkey.) I'm not a collector, I just like it.
I also know it looks like it could use a cleaning, but I'm not about to wash away all of that paint. I watch Roadshow, I know the score.
From what I understand, these were the kewpie dolls of their day - rather than winning a stuffed purple monkey, a Guns N Roses mirror, or a goldfish, the winner of a carnival game arount the 1890s could win a bust. They were considered cheap trinkets, just like everything at carnivals today, resulting in many of them being thrown away, repainted, or even gilded (I'm waiting to see my first gilded purple monkey.) I'm not a collector, I just like it.
I also know it looks like it could use a cleaning, but I'm not about to wash away all of that paint. I watch Roadshow, I know the score.