Ming Toy by Parfumerie Forest, launched in 1923, encapsulates the fascination with exoticism and orientalism that characterized much of the Western artistic and cultural output in the early 20th century. The name Ming Toy is an anglicized version of a Chinese name, deriving from the titular character Ming Toy, a Chinese girl in the 1918 musical comedy East Is West. This Broadway hit, later adapted into films, featured themes of cross-cultural romance and societal norms. Parfumerie Forest likely chose the name to evoke a sense of allure, fantasy, and cultural mystique that appealed to Western audiences of the time.
The phrase Ming Toy is often thought to derive from Cantonese or Mandarin, though it does not have a direct, universal translation. Pronounced roughly as “Ming Toh-ee” (with "Ming" as it sounds in English and "Toy" softened with a slight emphasis on the "ee"), it conjures imagery of brightness (ming can mean "bright" or "shining" in Mandarin) and daintiness (toy is often associated with diminutiveness or playfulness). Together, the name evokes delicacy, lightness, and a whimsical charm. For Western women of the 1920s, the name Ming Toy likely carried exotic and romantic connotations, presenting a fantastical vision of the East rather than an authentic cultural representation. It symbolized sophistication and adventure, appealing to those captivated by global influences and escapism.
Fay Bainter and Hassard Short in Ming Toy.
