Nanjing Relief Workers Collection Second Sino-Japanese War – Custom Printed Brick Block Figure

This four-figure custom printed brick block collection brings together a Nanjing duty officer, physician, Red Swastika Society care worker and red-cross-marked care worker in a Second Sino-Japanese War civilian relief theme. Two off-white uniforms and two black-clad designs offer contrasting headgear, faces and printed emblems. The set contains four figures with their pictured front-view headgear: two off-white caps and two black caps.

Historical / Thematic Background

The Nanjing crisis of 1937–1938 placed civilian survival at the center of a large relief effort. Following the Japanese capture of the city in December 1937, people needed shelter, nourishment and medical help. This collection presents four unnamed humanitarian roles, offering a civilian perspective alongside the military subjects often used in historical brick displays.

Relief depended on cooperation. Contemporary reports connect the Nanking International Relief Committee with Chinese charitable organizations, including the Red Swastika Society and local Red Cross Society. They describe food distribution, health services, clothing, bedding and work intended to help families endure continuing hardship.

The Society's red swastika belongs to a Chinese tradition of charity and compassion. The red cross has a separate history as a distinctive medical-relief emblem. Both appear in the collection's printing, allowing the four designs to suggest the wider network of help rather than one military unit or a named historical team.

The duty officer introduces coordination; the physician adds a treatment theme; and the two darker care-worker designs emphasize practical support. Their differing faces and emblems give each member a separate place in a civilian aid station, relief-supply scene or historical display. Front and rear photographs also allow the clothing and printing to be compared across the group.

1. Duty Officer

Character Identification

This custom printed brick block figure portrays an unnamed duty officer in a Nanjing Red Swastika Society relief theme. An off-white cap and jacket, a diagonally printed Chinese-lettered sash and a dark red-brown printed bag distinguish this figure from the physician.

Detailed Character Description

• Headgear & Face: The off-white cap has a broad crown, a low front band and small raised side details. The face has dark brows and eyes, a closed mouth and fine cheek lines.
• Torso & Uniform: An off-white jacket displays outlined lapels, buttons, pockets and small red collar markings. A blue circular chest design and dark seam printing add contrasting detail.
• Sash & Printed Equipment: A diagonal white sash bears a red swastika and Chinese characters. A dark red-brown bag is printed at the front beside the waist; these are printed surface details rather than separate bag accessories.
• Rear Printing: The collection rear-view photograph shows the off-white designs with crossing strap lines and a light bag-shaped back print bearing a small red swastika.
• Legs & Footwear: Gray trousers have dark pocket, seam and crease outlines. The black shoes have pale scuffed-looking accents along their toes and edges.
• Pictured Headgear: The full figure includes its pictured front-view cap; no additional loose equipment is shown with this individual figure.

Historical / Thematic Background

The duty officer supplies the collection's coordination theme. Its sash and contrasting printed bag distinguish it from the physician, suggesting the organization needed to connect people, supplies and practical assistance in a civilian relief scene.

2. Physician

Character Identification

This custom printed brick block figure represents an unnamed physician in a Nanjing Red Swastika Society relief setting. Its off-white cap and buttoned jacket, angled printed strap and light front bag distinguish the medical-role design from the companion duty officer. The figure presents a general civilian medical role within the collection.

Detailed Character Description

• Headgear & Face: A broad off-white cap sits above dark eyebrows, dark eyes and a slight smiling mouth. Fine cheek lines give the face an individual expression.
• Torso & Uniform: The off-white jacket has dark collar, button, seam and pocket outlines. Small red collar designs, a blue circular chest motif and a compact rectangular chest print create layered detail.
• Printed Bag & Strap: A narrow diagonal strap connects to a light bag-shaped print at the waist. Red swastika and small dark details appear on the bag; it is part of the torso printing, not a loose medical kit.
• Rear Printing: The collection rear image shows the two off-white designs with diagonal straps and a light bag-shaped back print carrying a red swastika.
• Legs & Footwear: Gray trousers carry dark pocket and crease lines above black shoes with pale weathered-looking edge accents.
• Pictured Headgear: The off-white cap pictured on the front-view figure is included with the full figure. No separate medical instruments are shown.

Historical / Thematic Background

The physician introduces medical treatment to the collection's civilian aid theme. Its light uniform and printed bag make a visual contrast with the darker practical-care designs, allowing a scene to suggest cooperation between different relief roles.

3. Red Swastika Society Care Worker

Character Identification

This custom printed brick block figure portrays an unnamed Nanjing care worker in a Red Swastika Society theme. Black clothing and a large red swastika in a pale rectangular chest panel distinguish it from the red-cross-marked companion. The design emphasizes practical care and civilian assistance.

Detailed Character Description

• Headgear & Face: The front views show a rounded black cap with layered band details and reddish-brown weathered-looking accents. The face has dark brows and eyes, a slight smile and reddish-brown printed cheek marks.
• Torso & Emblem: Black clothing has outlined collar and seam printing with tan-brown worn-looking patches. A large red swastika fills a light rectangular chest panel, with a smaller circular blue-and-red design near the collar.
• Rear Printing: The collection rear view shows a large white circular back print containing a dark Chinese character, with worn-looking patches around it. The rear photograph shows black molded hair in place of the front-view cap.
• Legs & Footwear: Black trousers have darker seam and crease printing. Black shoes display pale scuffed-looking toe edges.
• Pictured Headgear: The full figure includes the cap pictured in its front views.

Historical / Thematic Background

The rectangular red-swastika chest panel identifies this collection member with the Chinese charity theme. Its dark, worn-looking clothes offer a practical-worker contrast to the two off-white designs and help a display suggest everyday support for people in need.

4. Red-Cross-Marked Care Worker

Character Identification

This custom printed brick block figure depicts an unnamed care worker in a Nanjing civilian relief theme. Its dominant red cross appears inside a light circular chest medallion with bead-like chain printing. A smaller red-swastika badge is also visible, linking the design to the collection’s Chinese charitable-relief theme.

Detailed Character Description

• Headgear & Face: The front views show a rounded black cap with layered band shapes and reddish-brown accents. The face has lifted brows, a small downturned mouth and brown-red printed marks on one cheek.
• Torso & Emblems: Black clothing carries a large red cross inside a white circular medallion. Pale bead-like lines form a chain around the upper chest, while a smaller blue-and-red swastika motif sits to one side.
• Clothing & Rear Printing: Tan-brown weathered-looking patches and dark seam outlines continue across the clothing. The collection rear view shows the pale bead-like neck line and worn-looking back details, with molded black hair instead of the front cap.
• Legs & Footwear: Black trousers have subtle crease and seam details. Black shoes have pale scuffed-looking edging along their fronts.
• Pictured Headgear: The full figure includes its pictured front-view cap.

Historical / Thematic Background

The large circular red-cross medallion contrasts with the companion's rectangular swastika panel. A smaller swastika badge remains visible, linking the design to the shared Chinese relief theme while giving it a separate expression and chest-print arrangement.

Gallery Presentation

The rear-view gallery photograph shows the two black-clad workers with molded black hair instead of their front-view caps. The image provides an alternative head presentation while displaying the back printing of all four figures.