Kewpies and a Toby Jug (maybe?)
Day 55 of our Daily Drawing Exchange
Hi Nikki,
Feb 25, 2025
As promised--the creepy kewpie doll. I don't know why my pencil sketch is so small--it wasn't intended to be that way. I didn't quite catch the demonic gaze that my kids despised or the roly-poly-ness of the figure. I tried three times--results got worse and worse.
Attached also are two photos: one of the actual silver napkin ring, given to my mother on her 8th birthday in 1921, and the other of an antique kewpie doll. The first ones, made of bisque pottery, were made in 1912 in Germany. Meant to represent cut Cupids. I'll try this one again sometime.
Another day at home, today--yoga, work and now an exciting excursion to a Greek restaurant nearby for takeout. I am so, so sick of my own non-cooking of late. I mean, I love a tuna melt as much as the next person, but there are limits.
XO Sarah
Dear Sarah -
Wow - those are… interesting artifacts! What fabulous (weird) subjects for drawing!!
I don’t have a cupid/kewpie counterpart, but I do have this odd fellow who once belonged to my father.
It’s about 4 inches tall, rotund, peculiar with his hollowed out nose (maybe something was once there and broke off?) and I think (I can’t be sure) Dad referred to him as a Toby Mug (or jug), though he isn’t hollow. Or maybe the jug part refers to the mug of steaming - hot cocoa? - he’s holding in one hand, his other stuffed into the pocket of his stripy pants.
The little dude lived on a shelf in my father’s studio for years and now oversees my work here in my office. I’m not really thinking that hard about Swedish death cleaning these days (no time for that), but when I do, I wonder - what will happen to all these odd bits and bobs that surely nobody else will every care about?
I wonder if perhaps your dad made it. It is reminiscent of the old Toby jugs. Seems to be made of plaster. I was given a plaster nativity set that belonged to my late aunt, very chipped and beaten up but to me it's a treasure. I think one could buy a set unpainted, with the paints, and then add the colour yourself. Possibly from the Sears or Eatons catalogues. Reminds me of Harry Sandon, expert on all things pottery in the UK; at least a few toby jugs featuring him were made.
I wonder if perhaps your dad made it. It is reminiscent of the old Toby jugs. Seems to be made of plaster. I was given a plaster nativity set that belonged to my late aunt, very chipped and beaten up but to me it's a treasure. I think one could buy a set unpainted, with the paints, and then add the colour yourself. Possibly from the Sears or Eatons catalogues. Reminds me of Harry Sandon, expert on all things pottery in the UK; at least a few toby jugs featuring him were made.