Bawdy Bisques and Naughty Novelties
Postcard Image
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Friday, September 6, 2024
Such a Shame!
Friday, August 9, 2024
New On-Line Article
Thursday, August 1, 2024
All Bottled Up
This 14-inch tall clear glass bottle features a bathing beauty pressed against a pillar of stone as she appears to ponder whether to enter the unseen waves.
Thursday, July 11, 2024
All Dolled Up
Thursday, June 27, 2024
Man, oh man!
Monday, June 17, 2024
Speaking of pussyfooting. . .
An update to my maneki neko page features two examples of another unusual variation of the Japanese lucky cat, the "neko ni tako" (cat and octopus).
Friday, June 14, 2024
Not Pussyfooting Around
Monday, June 10, 2024
Thursday, May 30, 2024
Judging a Book by Its Cover. . . .
This hand-painted suede book cover was a souvenir of Atlantic City, New Jersey. These suede souvenirs were apparently quite a fad for a time, because I have come across examples commemorating other vacation destinations, all having the same basic construction, but different painted decorations suitable to the tourist site, as well as photo and postcard albums. This book cover is 8.5 inches by 5.5 inches and considering its wonderful condition, apparently did not spend too much time in the sand and sun at the shore. The owner's initials are gracefully stamped on the upper corner.
Thursday, May 9, 2024
Take my hand. . .
Kismet, 1953
The way these two starry-eyed, if under-clad, lovers look into each others' eyes, they are clearly in Paradise. This very scarce double half-doll is from the German company of Fasold and Stauch. This piece is 3.5 inches tall and wide and is incised "10217" on the back of the base. The fingers on the lovely lady's right hand have been repaired (the long graceful hands and slender fingers on Fasold's half-dolls and bathing beauties are unfortunately very susceptible to damage), but this piece is so rare and unusual (plus extraordinarily beautiful) that I chose to overlook the repairs. After all, with Hunky McStudmuffin there, who is looking at fingertips?
Friday, April 19, 2024
Nice Kicks
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Mystery Miss
The maker of this lovely lady is so far unknown. Similar luscious lasses have appeared on this blog, and while they share a family resemblance, all are unmarked. They are all of fine bisque with exceptionally delicate and graceful hands and wear pink painted slippers with molded, but in some cases undecorated, single straps. Although I have seen femmes by this mystery firm advertised in various antiques venues as by Galluba and Hofmann, these figures have much more realistically proportioned bodies than Galluba's idealized ladies and the facial painting is far less detailed, lacking Galluba's trademark intaglio blue eyes with deep pupils highlighted with a dot of white, typically outlined in black, with red upper lid lines. She is 3.25 inches high.
Thursday, March 7, 2024
Turkish Delight!
Thursday, February 22, 2024
The Color Purple
Thursday, February 8, 2024
The Sensation of the Doll World
Friday, January 26, 2024
Mystery Maiden
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Trapped in Amber. . .
. . . which is certainly what any man might be if he gazed into smoky golden eyes such as these. This sultry siren is a half doll attributed to the German firm of Fasold and Stauch. A number of their luscious ladies have been featured on this blog in various forms, including nudes, bathing beauties, and half dolls. The elongated almond amber eyes shadowed by smoky grey shading and slender, gracefully gesturing hands are signatures of Fasold. Of excellent china and beautifully molded and decorated, this wholly beautiful half doll is 4 inches tall and incised with an obscured number on the back of her base.