Morimura Brothers Japan Nippon  Dolls 1915-1926

Morimura Oriental doll mold 202, 12"

Morimura Oriental doll mold 202, 12" tall, bisque socket head on a five piece composition jointed bent limb baby body, painted multi stroke feathered eyebrows, brown inset eyes, open mouth with teeth, black wig, dressed in appropriate clothing.

F. Y. Nippon 202 - Morimura Oriental doll mark

Morimura Oriental doll mark

F. Y. Nippon 202

 

Morimura Brothers (1876-1941) was a Japanese import house based in New York City, USA.  They supplied bisque head German like copies of dolls to the American market and others, during World War I and after 1915-1926. 

 

They imported two basic types of bisque head dolls;  Character Babies or Dolly faced dolls. 

 

They also sold celluloid dolls, Nankeen (cotton body) China head dolls, composition dolls made by Bester Manufacturing and dolls made of rubber

 

In 1922 Morimura turned their Import Department over to Langfelder, Homma & Hayward who continued to import bisque German and Japan dolls for them. 

 

Some markings found on Morimura dolls are: FY, MY, JW, MB, Y, MB inside circle, Nippon or Japan (the word Nippon = Japan), a mold number or Yamato

 

The Langfelder patented Dolly doll has stationary legs, molded clothing and a diamond shaped label.

Morimura FY Nippon 405 doll mark

Morimura F. Y. Nippon 405 doll mark

 

Morimura MB Japan doll mark

Morimura MB Japan doll mark

 

 

Note: We have found antique bisque head dolls marked RE inside a triangle Nippon, it is most likely these dolls also came through the Morimura Import Department, but this is only a best guess, as we have not found any confirmed documentation.

Morimura Character baby doll, 20"

Character Baby Doll, 20" tall

Character Baby dolls, 10-22" tall, bisque socket head, composition bent limb body, glass eyes, open mouth, wigged.  Markings:  FY, MY, JW, MB, Y, MB with in a circle Japan + a number, Nippon, Yamato, doll mold 70018.

Morimura Dolly Face doll, 24"

Dolly Face, 24" tall

Dolly Face, 8-24" tall, bisque shoulder head, composition jointed or kid body, glass eyes, open mouth, wigged.  Markings:  FY, MY, JW, MB, Y, MB within a circle Japan + a number, Nippon, Yamato, doll mold 405, 1603

Some doll names, mold numbers or trademarks used by Morimura are;

Baby Darling or My Darling, Baby Ella,  Baby O' Mine, 1919 Baby Rose, First Prize Baby, Dolly, My Sweetheart, Nankeen dolls (china head dolls on nankeen - cotton bodies), Queue San Baby, doll mold 202, 405, 1603, 70018.

Morimura Brothers Japan Nippon Dolls 1915-1926

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