True or not, it has been said that she wanted to design a doll that would be loved by everyone who saw it. So she set to work and designed a doll that resembled a chubby child complete with a tummy that stuck out. She also added tiny blue wings, a single shock of hair, and designed its hands so they were webbed. The Kewpie doll was also noted for its impish smile and eyes that are turned to the side. Her creations were called Kewpies because of the strong resemblance to pictures of Cupid.
Cupid is the mythical matchmaker who carries bows and arrows.
He supposedly brings two people together in love because their hearts have been struck by his arrows. Kewpie dolls were originally made of porcelain, plaster or plastic. They ranged in size from very small to about a foot and a half tall. The original Kewpie dolls were later designed to look like many different occupational workers. These dolls included gardeners, musicians, soldiers and many others.