Believe it or not, this lovely figure of a woman is actually a medical instrument! It’s known as a “doctor’s lady”.
They originated in China from as early as the Ming Dynasty (1300’s) and were still used up until 100 years ago.
They are small carvings depicting a nude female in a recumbent position, supporting her head on her right arm, with her left arm resting demurely on her body.
Traditionally, Chinese male physicians used them so a female patient could indicate the location of her discomfort in a modest fashion. This eliminated the shame of having to show or point to her own body, which was strictly taboo.
The figures were made from various materials such as ivory, resin, semiprecious stone, or soapstone.
They are typically 4 to 10 inches long, often with a base in the form of a couch.
Back then, they would have likely used a pointing stick carved as a hand with the index finger extended to point to various areas of the body. That way the doctor wouldn’t even have physical contact with the figure, taking the level of modesty one degree further. Sadly, those pointers are even harder to find than the figures!
Although these “doctor’s ladies” are highly prized and collected among physicians, I find them to be beautiful as well as fascinating too. They show just how we’ve come as women. I'm always keeping a look out and hope to find a few more someday.
Hugs,
Patti
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