Chinese Peasant Girl with Baskets (Planter/Vase)
Decorative ceramic vessel/figurine • Mass-produced souvenir ceramic; likely Chinese export or Japanese manufacture (Showa period) for the Western market
Style & Movement
Mid-Century Orientalist Folk Art
Medium & Technique
Glazed earthenware with hand-painted overglaze details
Creation Period
Mid-20th Century (circa 1940s-1970s)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 6 to 8 inches in height; three-dimensional figurine format
Subject Description
A stylized young girl in traditional attire carrying large woven-textured baskets that serve as functional vessels or planters. She features a simplified facial expression and traditional hairstyle.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good/Fair: Notable crazing throughout the glaze and some pigment loss on the brown trousers and basket edges.
Estimated Market Value
$15 - $35 USD
Auction Estimate
$10 - $25 USD
Provenance History
Likely a household decorative item purchased via thrift or estate channels; typical of postwar export trade.
Art Historical Significance
Represents the mid-century trend of affordable 'Chinoiserie' or orientalist home decor common in North American and European middle-class homes.
Notable Features
Functional dual-basket design; iconic 'clunky' aesthetic characteristic of post-WWII novelty ceramics.
Condition Issues
Stable surface crazing, slight discoloration in the basket interior due to use as a planter, and minor paint flaking on cold-painted elements.
Conservation Recommendations
Gentle cleaning with a soft cloth; avoid immersion in water due to crazing; display out of direct intense UV light to prevent further pigment fading.