Bawdy Bisques and Naughty Novelties: Snake Charmer

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.

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Snake Charmer

He's a cold-hearted snake

Look into his eyes

Oh oh oh

He's been tellin' lies

He's a lover boy at play

He don't play by the rules

Oh oh oh

Girl don't play the fool--no

Paula Abdul and Elliot Wolfe, 1989

This slinky serpent is either charming, or is being charmed by, the lithe and lovely lady curled up on his coils. A very unusual creation by Galluba and Hofmann, this 4.25 inch tall and 4.5 inch wide china figurine is stamped underneath in green with the company's intertwined “G” and “H” inside a crowned shield and incised “40.” The encircling snake forms a shallow dish, perhaps for holding powder or trinkets (or maybe an apple?).