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, October 14, 2016

A Quartette of Coquettes in Corsets

These four flirtatious femmes are another series of damsels in dishabille by the German firm of Schafer and Vater.  In addition to the black stockings so favored by Schafer, these lovely lasses each have a blue flower adorning long flowing blonde tresses that fall to their corseted waists, camisoles that insist on slipping off softly rounded shoulders, white bloomers, and orange ankle boots.  They are all of excellent sharp bisque.  


The lady lounging with a book is 4.5 inches long and marked with a freehand “2.” under her hips.  Her less literary sister, who poses provocatively with a oversized fan, is 4 inches long and marked with a freehand "85" underneath.    


The belle buttoning her boot is 2.75 inches long and marked with a freehand "37" underneath.  Her friend flaunting a folded fan is 3 inches high and is unmarked.


No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)