china doll

[keannu]

What does this "china doll" mean here? It seems to have many meanings such as "slim beauty", "chinese woman" or "doll made of china=pottery".

go1-30
ex)Friday came at last, the day of the biggest dance party in years. That afternoon, Mama told us to take a nap, a “Beauty Sleep.” When I woke up, I saw a stranger in the bedroom. A perfect stranger. My jaw was on the floor. It was a beautiful young lady, slender as a willow branch, her hair puffed over
her little shell-pink ears. She wore a pink dress. Her rosebud lips were pinker than her dress. It was my big sister Maggie. I jumped. “Maggie?” I said. I couldn’t believe what Mama did to her. She looked like an angel, no, a china doll, too perfect to touch. Beside Maggie, Mama was holding a curling iron, smiling at me. “Honey, come and see what I did for your sister.”

[Rover_KE]

View china dolls here.

They are known for their extreme fragility.

Rover

[keannu]

Is this "My jaw was on the floor" a common expression showing one's shock or surprise? I've heard "My jaw hit the floor". What other similar expressions do you have?

[keannu]

Maybe it's rare; nobody is responding.

"My jaw was on the floor"

[Rover_KE]

I was wondering what it had got to do with 'china doll'.

It's common enough. Also 'My jaw fell open'.

Rover

[keannu]

Sorry to confuse you. What about "My jaw hit the floor"? Is it also common?

[Rover_KE]

Probably about as common as 'My jaw was on the floor'.

Rover

[Raymott]

View china dolls here.

They are known for their extreme fragility.

Rover

Some of those women on that page don't look too fragile. So, "china doll" is also an image. It looks like there is still some confusion over whether the doll has to be made of china as well as portraying a Chinese woman.