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.

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Playing with her Pussy. . . cat

Striking a playful pose with a feline friend, this 5-inch long bisque bathing beauty is part of a scarce series by Galluba and Hofmann of lovely ladies lounging with their pets.  Her mohair wig is a replacement, but she retains the remains of her silk net bathing suit with shredded faded red bows at neckline and on back.  There are no visible marks.  


 The cute kitten in the blue bow was molded separately and added to his mischievous mistress during the greenware stage.  This allowed Galluba to use its existing bathing beauty models and expand its offerings by simply adding an assortment of animal companions.  The additions included two different types of cats, a spaniel, a French bulldog, and even a very rare devilish imp.  Here is the same model, sans pussycat, who appeared earlier in this blog.  



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