Vintage Girl Head Vase Planter — Auburn Hair with Blue Bows, 1950s Japan, Pink Ruffled Collar

The One With the Pigtail Bows

Every collection needs its free spirit — and she just walked in. This girl showed up with two bright blue bows in her auburn hair and a pink ruffled collar, looking like she's about to skip off to a 1950s birthday party. She's not trying to be sophisticated. She doesn't need to be. She's got personality to spare. This is a mid-century Japanese export head vase at its most endearing. The sculpted auburn brown hair has real dimension — you can see the waves and texture in the glaze work, with each strand catching the light differently. The two blue bows sit at the sides of her head in a pigtail arrangement, their vivid turquoise blue providing a bright pop of color against the warm brown. Her face is beautifully painted: green-teal eyes with carefully rendered lashes, a sweet turned-up nose, red bow lips, and soft rosy cheeks that give her a healthy, lively warmth. The pink ruffled collar frames her face and shoulders, sculpted with gentle folds that catch shadow and light. The back view is equally charming — you can see where her auburn hair cascades down, with the two blue bows visible from every angle. This is a piece that was meant to be displayed in the round, not pushed against a wall.

The Head Vase Story

Head vases — also called head planters or headvases by collectors — were one of the most charming phenomena of mid-century American decorating. Produced primarily in Japan during the late 1940s through the 1960s, they were imported by companies like Napco, Inarco, Lefton, and Relpo, and sold through florists, gift shops, and five-and-dime stores across the country. Florists would tuck small bouquets into them, and customers often fell more in love with the vase than the flowers. What started as clever packaging became a collecting passion that endures to this day. This piece carries no visible maker's mark on its base — no stamp, sticker, or embossed identification. This is common for Japanese export ceramics of this era; many pieces carried only paper labels or foil stickers that were lost over the decades. The quality of the molding, the hand-painting, and the overall style are consistent with the better Japanese export ceramics of the 1950s. Girl and young woman forms are among the most sought-after head vase designs, and the dual-bow pigtail styling gives this one a distinctive personality that stands out in a collection. Be sure to look for other vintage head vases in the shop — we're always adding to the collection.

Details

• Origin: Japan (style and construction consistent with 1950s Japanese export ceramics)
• Era: 1950s
• Material: Glazed ceramic with hand-painted details
• Form: Girl head vase / planter (open at top)
• Design: Young girl with auburn brown hair, two blue bows in pigtail arrangement, pink ruffled collar
• Colors: Auburn brown (hair), turquoise blue (bows), pink (collar), green-teal (eyes), red (lips), flesh tones
• Dimensions: Approximately 6" tall × 4" wide × 4" deep
• Mark: Unmarked — no stamp, sticker, or embossed mark on base

Condition

Excellent. No chips, cracks, crazing, or paint loss. The hand-painted facial features remain crisp and vibrant — her green eyes are bright, her red lips are fully intact, and the rosy cheeks retain their warm blush. The blue bows show their original vivid color with no fading, and the pink ruffled collar is free of any damage. The glaze has a healthy, consistent shine throughout. Minor wear on the unglazed base is consistent with seven decades of careful handling. She's been well looked after.