Hi Jonathan,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

This doll is very much in the style of "Kewpie" dolls, made beginning in 1909 and created by illustrator Rose O'Neill for Ladies' Home Journal. Inspired by cherubic figures, Kewpies quickly became popular as comic characters before being produced as bisque dolls in Germany. Their wide eyes and topknots symbolized innocence and playful mischief. By the early 20th century, they were mass-produced in the U.S., becoming cultural icons and carnival prizes. Kewpies influenced advertising, collectibles, and even Japanese culture, notably inspiring the branding of Kewpie Corporation.

The presence of the label for Pewee Kids - a knockoff of Kewpie dolls - is an important factor in considering the value of this doll.

Other Pewee Kewpie style dolls that have come up for auction have brought only nominal sums - typically less than $50 and highly tied to value, which in the case of this doll looks to be in comparatively poor, with cracking and flaking to the composition. At the high end, this has a fair-market value of not more than $25.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A vintage Kewpie style composition doll
made by PeWee Kids, mid 20th Century
painted composition, wearing a purple knit tunic, labeled to the underside of one foot.
13 inches tall
CONDITION: cracking and flaking
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$ 15-25*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia