Lydia China Head Doll
This is a 21 inch china head doll with Lydia hairstyle. The Lydia hairstyle is formed by sausage curls hanging close to the
neck, longer in back than on the sides. She is on a cloth body with leather arms. Her costume was made in the period with
sectioned sleeves and sleevelets. Her face painting has characteristics of the Kestner factory including the long oval face, the
small pursed lips with the white line between the upper and lower lips as well as the eyes with the highlights and partial darker
outline to the iris.
The name Lydia is a mystery. Lydia was originally a place, a part of Asia Minor in the 12 century BC. After being part of the
Greek, then Roman Empires, it is now part of Turkey. It was the origin of gold and silver minted coins in 660 BC. It was also
the origin of retail shops according to Herodotus. The gold deposits of the rivers of the area were considered the source of the
wealth of Lydia's last historical king, Croesus. Legend states the gold deposits were formed when Midas washed away the
"Midas Touch" in the rivers of the area. Croesus paid for the construction of the Temple of Artemus in Ephesius, the seventh
wonder of the ancient world. The area was then taken over by Persia, Greece, Rome and ultimately has become part of Asia
Minor. The area is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles 1614-15 when a merchant woman named Lydia (from this area) was
baptised. The area was synomous with wealth and beauty of the ancient world. Could this be the source of the name?
neck, longer in back than on the sides. She is on a cloth body with leather arms. Her costume was made in the period with
sectioned sleeves and sleevelets. Her face painting has characteristics of the Kestner factory including the long oval face, the
small pursed lips with the white line between the upper and lower lips as well as the eyes with the highlights and partial darker
outline to the iris.
The name Lydia is a mystery. Lydia was originally a place, a part of Asia Minor in the 12 century BC. After being part of the
Greek, then Roman Empires, it is now part of Turkey. It was the origin of gold and silver minted coins in 660 BC. It was also
the origin of retail shops according to Herodotus. The gold deposits of the rivers of the area were considered the source of the
wealth of Lydia's last historical king, Croesus. Legend states the gold deposits were formed when Midas washed away the
"Midas Touch" in the rivers of the area. Croesus paid for the construction of the Temple of Artemus in Ephesius, the seventh
wonder of the ancient world. The area was then taken over by Persia, Greece, Rome and ultimately has become part of Asia
Minor. The area is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles 1614-15 when a merchant woman named Lydia (from this area) was
baptised. The area was synomous with wealth and beauty of the ancient world. Could this be the source of the name?
