This Japanese porcelain music box by Otagiri was produced for Gibson Greeting Cards, Inc. and features a wonderfully detailed domestic scene of a young girl standing beside a small cat and old-fashioned stove.
The girl wears a coral-pink dress over pale blue trousers with brown boots, her long hair tied at the back with a blue bow. Beside her sits a small brown cat wearing a coordinating pink bow, while the gray ceramic stove completes the miniature interior scene. The figures stand on a textured floor with a round braided-rug design in soft pink and blue.
The underside retains its original wooden mechanism cover and labels identifying the piece as Otagiri Japan and Gibson Greeting Cards, Inc. The original label identifies the musical selection as “Thank Heaven for Little Girls,” the Lerner and Loewe song written for Gigi.
Otagiri produced a range of ceramic and porcelain musical figurines for Gibson Greeting Cards during the late 20th century. Surviving examples share the same combination of hand-finished ceramic figures, wooden mechanism plates, Otagiri Japan labeling, and mechanical musical movements.
Condition
Good pre-owned vintage condition with age-related wear consistent with display and use.
The glazed ceramic retains strong color and shine. Minor surface marks, glaze variations, small manufacturing irregularities, or light age-related wear may be present.
The underside retains the original wood backing, Otagiri label, Gibson Greeting Cards marking, metal mechanism plate, and ON/OFF control.
Musical function: Works correctly, on and off button works.
Details
Maker: Otagiri
Distributor / licensed for: Gibson Greeting Cards, Inc.
Collection / label: “Thank Heaven for Little Girls”
Type: Mechanical music box / decorative figurine
Material: Glazed ceramic / porcelain
Subject: Young girl with cat and stove
Girl’s clothing: Coral-pink dress, pale blue trousers, brown boots
Additional figures: Small cat with pink bow
Additional detail: Gray old-fashioned stove
Base decoration: Textured flooring with pink-and-blue braided rug
Musical tune: “Thank Heaven for Little Girls”
Mechanism: Wind-up musical movement with ON/OFF control
Underside: Wooden mechanism cover with metal access plate
Marking: Otagiri Japan
Additional marking: © Gibson Greeting Cards, Inc.
Country of manufacture: Japan
Era: Late 20th century, likely 1970s–1980s
Macondo Room Object No.: 032
This Japanese porcelain music box by Otagiri was produced for Gibson Greeting Cards, Inc. and features a wonderfully detailed domestic scene of a young girl standing beside a small cat and old-fashioned stove.
The girl wears a coral-pink dress over pale blue trousers with brown boots, her long hair tied at the back with a blue bow. Beside her sits a small brown cat wearing a coordinating pink bow, while the gray ceramic stove completes the miniature interior scene. The figures stand on a textured floor with a round braided-rug design in soft pink and blue.
The underside retains its original wooden mechanism cover and labels identifying the piece as Otagiri Japan and Gibson Greeting Cards, Inc. The original label identifies the musical selection as “Thank Heaven for Little Girls,” the Lerner and Loewe song written for Gigi.
Otagiri produced a range of ceramic and porcelain musical figurines for Gibson Greeting Cards during the late 20th century. Surviving examples share the same combination of hand-finished ceramic figures, wooden mechanism plates, Otagiri Japan labeling, and mechanical musical movements.
Condition
Good pre-owned vintage condition with age-related wear consistent with display and use.
The glazed ceramic retains strong color and shine. Minor surface marks, glaze variations, small manufacturing irregularities, or light age-related wear may be present.
The underside retains the original wood backing, Otagiri label, Gibson Greeting Cards marking, metal mechanism plate, and ON/OFF control.
Musical function: Works correctly, on and off button works.
Details
Maker: Otagiri
Distributor / licensed for: Gibson Greeting Cards, Inc.
Collection / label: “Thank Heaven for Little Girls”
Type: Mechanical music box / decorative figurine
Material: Glazed ceramic / porcelain
Subject: Young girl with cat and stove
Girl’s clothing: Coral-pink dress, pale blue trousers, brown boots
Additional figures: Small cat with pink bow
Additional detail: Gray old-fashioned stove
Base decoration: Textured flooring with pink-and-blue braided rug
Musical tune: “Thank Heaven for Little Girls”
Mechanism: Wind-up musical movement with ON/OFF control
Underside: Wooden mechanism cover with metal access plate
Marking: Otagiri Japan
Additional marking: © Gibson Greeting Cards, Inc.
Country of manufacture: Japan
Era: Late 20th century, likely 1970s–1980s
Macondo Room Object No.: 032
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