Chinese Lucky Children?

[forestlittle]

Hello, everyone!

My mother in law recently bought these carved figures but non of us have any idea what they might be.
After googling for quite a while I could only find this post http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/68676057/Chinese_Good_luck_children_sleeping_on_watermelons_a_very_endearing_pair_Vintage_wood_carvings.html , where the figures quite similar to the ones we have were sold on an auction, however the seller did not provide any description of the origins of the figures. (apart from them being Chinese)

They have no marks on them, nothing. Looks like a solid piece of wood, they are quite heavy for the size (around 10 cm long and about 5 cm tall)
So would be really happy if anyone could give a hint about what those are and the approximate value.

[mart]

Have you done a hot pin test to see if these figures are composite resin ??

[forestlittle]

I guess my mother in law did, as the fact that those carvings are wooden is the only thing about them she is absolutely certain of.

[icedgold10]

Those are baby pillows.  Most often made of wood.  They were used  before & during WW2 for men to rest their heads on and smoke opium. Until the people in charge found out the opium was getting them high.  I believe they are Japanese not Chinese looking at the hair in the first picture.

[forestlittle]

Thank you, icedgold10
That's very interesting. Can you give a hint on where I can read more about them, as yet again google was not that generous.

[mart]

Isn`t that kind of small for a pillow ??  Can`t see how that would work !!

[icedgold10]

Here is a link for the set I sold on Ebay a while back.  Yes, Mart it is small but they tended to use them to lay on when smoking opium and some had hidden compartments for storing it.  The pillows used by the Japanese in the 11th century were the size of a brick and hard.  Here is a link to a blog with more on it.  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5754761.Mitchell_Hagerstrom/blog

[mart]

LOL !!  I guess with the opium they really didn`t care how big it was !!

[icedgold10]

Exactly, Mart.   

[KC]

Beat me to it icedgold10!  Exactly what they are!  Over the years they have increased in value.

The male/female pairs sold together generally reach a higher value!

In fact in most countries they didn't/don't use pillows.  Many still sleep on floors/mats!

Here are some completed listings:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHINESE-HAND-PAINTED-OPIUM-PILLOW-HEADREST-PORCELAIN-1930-1940-Very-Rare-/271356941969?pt=Asian_Antiques&hash=item3f2e225691

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-of-Boy-Girl-Opium-Pillows-/121218499593?pt=Asian_Antiques&hash=item1c392f8409

[mart]

Whoever slept on those must not wiggle around like I do !!  I would have two black eyes before morning !!

[KC]

Mart, you made me literally laugh out loud!  Personally I would get a migraine!  LOL  Better to not have a pillow...but I guess it keeps them from snoring!