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Kewpie
Dolls
Almost
single-handedly,
Mike Malone is
bringing Kewpie
back into the tattoo
world. These designs
were common in
tattoo flash around
the early 1900s
but in the 1950s,
Kewpies was viewed
as old-fashioned
and they faded
from popularity.
Kewpie designs
can be found on
production flash
sheets sold by
Percy Waters, Milton
Zeis and Bill Moore's
Chicago Tattoo
Supply House. Below
is a picture of
Rose O'Neill's
Kewpie illustration,
1910.
As with many classic tattoo designs
of the past, the Kewpie was taken
from popular culture. Created by
artist/poet Rose O'Neill, the Kewpie
first appeared in the Ladies Home
Journal in 1909 and later in children's
books that O'Neill wrote and illustrated.
The Kewpie was also used in advertisements
for Jell-O, Edison phonographs,
Kellogg's Corn Flakes, Kodak camera,
Colgate Talc Power and many other
products. 
These illustrations were so popular
that soon O'Neill came on the idea
of making Kewpie Dolls. It is said
that O'Neill wanted to design a
doll that resembled a chubby child,
complete with a tummy that stuck
out. Kewpies have many unique features;
most were nude with a topknot hairdo
and a red heart was often painted
on their chests. Tiny blue wings
were on their backs and they had
ebbed hands. The Kewpie was also
noted for its impish smile and
eyes that turned to the side. Her
creations were called Kewpies because
it resembled Cupid, the mythical
matchmaker.
Several German companies produced
the original dolls that had glass
eyes on their bisque faces. These
original dolls can be recognized
by Rose O'Neill's name on their
foot. Throughout the years, Kewpies
have been produced in celluloid,
hard plastic, vinyl, cloth, and
chalk --almost any material you
can think of. Most Kewpie dolls
were nude, but around the 1920s
they started being made dressed
as firemen, bellboys, cowboys,
musicians and American and European
soldiers. In 1914 a black Kewpie
was made and named Hottentot.
Kewpies are almost as popular today
as they were in the 1920s. To the
right is a design from the tattoo
world.
The United Postal Service has twice
recognized Rose O'Neill with stamps
commemorating her work. In 1997,
Scootles appeared in the collection
of Classic American Dolls and in
the year 2000, Kewpie and Kewpidoodle
were featured with 19 other outstanding
American Illustrators.
The International Rose O'Neill
Club ("IROC") was founded in 1967.
Its mission to preserve and perpetuate
the memory and works of Rose O'Neill,
to promote the cultural arts, and
to hold an annual celebration in
Branson, Missouri, to be known
as Kewpiesta. The Club provides
scholarships to aid needy talented
students in the area of arts. In
keeping with the philosophy of
Rose O'Neill, it continues to help
others as she helped others in
her lifetime. The club hopes to
establish a suitable memorial to
Rose O'Neill.
Tattoo Archive © 2003
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