Vtg Samsui Woman Doll Carrying A Garden Hoe Malaysia Singapore Malay Costume

Vintage Samsui Woman Doll Carrying A Garden Hoe Malaysia Singapore Malay Costume Doll 10 1/2"

This doll has been in my collection since the 1960's.

Samsui women, also known as hong tou jin (; Mandarin for “red headscarf") after their trademark red headgear,1 were female immigrants mainly from the Sanshui (“Samsui" in Cantonese; meaning “three waters") district of Canton (Guangdong today) province in southern China. Other areas where they came from include Shunde and Dongguan, also in Canton province, as well as places outside of Canton like Fujian and Chao’an, although samsui women from these regions were much fewer. Samsui women started arriving in Singapore in large numbers in the mid-1930s and many found work as general labourers in the construction industry.2 A large number of these women lived together in shared accommodations. There are few samsui women left in Singapore today, as most have either passed away or returned to China.

Thanks for looking.