Postcard Image

Postcard Image
As the Victorian era passed into the Edwardian and Roaring Twenties, a market developed for bisque and china bawdy novelties and figurines of women in revealing outfits. Although now most of these figurines seem more coy and cute than ribald and risque, in their time they symbolized the casting off of the perceived restraints of the Victorian era.

These little lovelies included bathing beauties, who came clad in swimsuits of real lace or in stylish painted beach wear, as well as mermaids, harem ladies, and nudies, who were meant to wear nothing more than an engaging smile. Also produced were flippers, innocent appearing figurines who reveal a bawdy secret when flipped over, and squirters, figurines that were meant to squirt water out of an appropriate orifice.

Most were manufactured in Germany from the late 1800s through the 1930s, often showing remarkable artistry and imagination, with Japan entering the market during World War I.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Bathing Beauty of the Day; Day 18

Ms. #378  is a 2.75 inch tall bisque bathing beauty riding a 6.5 inch long china lobster.  Although she has lost her bathing suit, she retains her original light brown mohair wig.  From the German company of Galluba and Hofmann, the now-bare belle is incised on her back “407 C.e.”  Her shellfish steed  is stamped underneath with a faded shield mark of Galluba and Hofmann and is incised under the tail “9937.” 

This lovey lady and her lobster are pictured on this catalogue page from Galluba, on the second row from the bottom, second piece from the left.

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