If there is one thing most people have in common, it is the fact they are a collector of some sort. Whether it is baseball cards, books or vintage clothing, chances are everyone has a display in there home or a special box tucked away which houses something unique to each person.

Schomberg resident Janet Orr has a collection of special dolls that are not only hard to find, but have a vast history and an interesting tale to tell. The dolls she collects are referred to as Door of Hope dolls.

Orr has researched every last intricate detail and the history of the Door of Hope dolls, sans computer. Orr said the Door of Hope dolls came out of the Door of Hope mission. The mission was founded in 1901 in Shanghai, China by five women of various denominations. The aim of the mission in China was to alleviate the suffering of the young females who were sold into slavery or had no place to go.

“At the mission, the girls were taught to sew,” said Orr. The girls were taught reading, arithmetic and hygiene in the morning and spent the afternoon sewing. They were first taught how to make bedding, clothing and shoes, and then outfits for the dolls.

The girls were paid between three and five cents an hour for the dolls. “They needed to learn a trade.”

Their sewing skills proved extremely valuable for making dresses for the Door of Hope dolls. The wooden head and hands were made outside of the mission, so when the wooden pieces were brought to the mission, the girls attached the heads and feet to the stuffed bodies with clothing representing the period the doll was made for. The heads are very detailed, down to the long braid of hair some Chinese gentlemen to the various hat shapes and colours and the type of shoes.

“The dolls were dressed and are made to be as authentic as possible when it came to their look. The dress was made of silk, satin and cotton. Some say the materials were supplied by local textile companies via a donation. Other records state the silks, satins and cottons were donated as left-overs from the shops in Shanghai.

Orr said she is trying to find out as much as she can about who carved the wooden parts of the doll, and where in China were they made. Although Orr said she has read they were from Ningpo, a city almost 200 miles away from Shanghai, she said it doesn’t seem to make much sense that it would be done so far away from where the dolls were put together.

Orr said there are no records or design patterns available – the downtown of Shanghai from 1901–1940 (when the Door of Hope mission closed) has changed dramatically, and any information that may have been tucked away somewhere may be lost for good.

A collection of Door of Hope dolls consists of 25 dolls and Orr, who starting collecting the dolls in 2002, now has 18.

It’s not just the dolls themselves,” said Orr. “It’s the history and the mystery behind them. They definitely have a story to tell, and I am enjoying the fact I am learning so much about these wonderful dolls.”

There are various types of Door of Hope dolls, each unique in its dress and carved face; the bridge and groom, gentlemen and lady (young and old), boy and girl, Buddhist Priest, Farmer, Policeman, etc. Orr said trying to track down the last few she needs for a complete set is not only fun, but extremely educational, and interesting.

“It’s a unique hobby,” she said of collecting the Door of Hope dolls. “It’s definitely a learning experience.”

Chinese translations for “door of hope” and “mission dolls” provided by Ching Sing Yeung. Thank you!

The elderly gentleman, policeman and Buddhist Priest each have their own distinct look and features. The priest has little holes at the top of his head, while the policeman shows off his long braided hair. Hair braids worn on men were banned in China after 1911.

The bride, groom and farmer were dressed representing their time period. The bride and groom’s silk outfits are made of strong and bold colours. The size and colour of the square in the middle of the groom’s attire represents his status in the community. Although not visable, the
farmer should have a rake in his hand for when he is working in the field.