Can anyone date these figures?

[Keith Jackson]

These two small figures have been in my family for many years and according to family lore, they were my uncle's toys. I was hoping to find out how old these are in order to determine if the family lore could be true. They are both marked Japan on the back. The dog is maybe 1 inch tall and the boy is maybe 3 inches tall. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

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[bradyboy]

1921 is when imports were required to be marked JAPAN
Brady

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Can you possibly post a pic of the underside of the lion and of the feet of the figurine Keith?
This will help us date them more accurately.

Stylistically, I'm thinking they date from the 1950s.
Dave

 

[Keith Jackson]

I will try to post better pictures later. I can tell you that the dog is hollow and has a hole on the bottom and a visible seam while the boy does not have a visible opening in it. For these to fit the family "lore" they would need to be pre-mid 1930s. I have doubts about the story since he was only 2 or 3 when he died. Not sure who would give a 2 year old figures like this as toys unless it was all they had and I know that they were very poor at the time.

 

[Plug N Play]

Check out, BISQUE PENNY DOLLS.
They fit the time frame. (and the lion had a hole in the bottom)

 

[gunsil]

1921 is when imports were required to be marked JAPAN
Brady

Don't know where this came from. The McKinley Tariff Act of 1890 was when all imported goods were required to have the country of origin marked on them.

 

[Plug N Play]

Don't know where this came from. The McKinley Tariff Act of 1890 was when all imported goods were required to have the country of origin marked on them.

"Japanese porcelain made for export to the United States from 1891 to 1921 is called "Nippon Porcelain" because the word "Nippon" was on each piece. The word "Nippon" was required by the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890. This law stated that all manufactured goods imported to the United States be marked with the country of origin. Since "Nippon" was the Japanese word for the country of Japan, porcelain made there for the U.S. market was marked "Nippon" to comply with the new law. American trade officials accepted "Nippon" as the name of the country of origin until 1921. At that time, it was ruled that "Nippon" was a Japanese word. Since the law required the country of origin to be an English word, the use of "Nippon" was forbidden from 1921 on."

 

[gunsil]

Here's a more definitive explanation. Most were marked Nippon, but some Japan between 1891 and 1921. I tend to think the OP items are 1950s.

https://ezinearticles.com/?A-Short-...gs-and-Dating-of-Japanese-Ceramics&id=6669336

 

[GoldieLocks]

Something tells me that the lion is much older than the little standing boy.