Vintage Handmade Dolls, Beijing Opera Characters, acquired in Beijing in 1978

Description: My parents were members of one of the first organized American tours to visit China, sponsored by the George Washington University, which was able to obtain 22 visas in November of 1977. The tour left Washington, D.C. on April 6, 1978 and returned on April 27, 1978. I can easily say that of all the tours my parents had taken up til then, this one to China was the most astonishing to them. Having lived most of their adult lives with the belief that they would never be permitted to see China, they so thoroughly appreciated their first tour that they turned right back around in Sept., 1979 for their second tour, and then again in 1985 for their third. But it was that first tour, in 1978, that left the greatest impression upon them. They brought home many hand made and unique souvenirs, beautiful embroideries and needlework displays, which they cherished for the rest of their days. These two dolls were purchased on that first trip. They are an example of the magnificent handwork that was sold as souvenirs. These dolls from the Beijing Opera are nearly 7 inches tall, their red wooden silk-covered bases are 4 inches in diameter. They have been displayed in glass domes these past 45 years. They should continue to be under glass, because they are very delicate. They are beautiful at opposite ends of a mantle or buffet, and after all these years, they are still a point of interest to guests in my home. Please read the page I have posted with the photos above from the Master's Thesis written by Ying Shi of Loyola University in 1997, verifying that 1978 was the year that China changed its tourism policy and began to allow American tourists to visit. Among them, were my two parents, aged 72 and 66, who had the most exciting adventure of their lives.

Price: 200 USD

Location: Bethesda, Maryland

End Time: 2024-08-20T15:46:36.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD