On May 4, 2023, my article about fishing figures, the little aquarium novelties that perched on the edge of a fishtanks, tiny fishing poles in hand, appeared on the on the online Museum of Aquarium and Pet History. The article includes pictures of these fish tank fancies from my collection, as well as images from manufacturer and aquarium catalogs.
Bawdy Bisques and Naughty Novelties
Postcard Image

Thursday, September 14, 2023
Friday, August 18, 2023
At Last. . . a Man!*
Thursday, July 13, 2023
Pony Boy

Thursday, June 15, 2023
Automaton Odalisque (Updated June 16, 2023)
Friday, June 2, 2023
Someone Needs a Hug. . . .
Thursday, May 11, 2023
Gayly Sounds the Castanet,
Thursday, April 27, 2023
Age of Bronze, Finale
Friday, March 31, 2023
Age of Bronze II
Friday, March 17, 2023
Age of Bronze
This lissome miss is cast in bronze. Although only 2.5 inches tall and high, she is superbly sculpted, from the waves in her thick tresses to the tiny bows on the toes of her ballet-style bathing slippers. Her skin has a soft glowing golden patina, while the nautical blouse of her bathing suit is subtly silvered and her skirt and shoes have a greenish patina. A touch of red tints the bows in her hair and around her slender ankles. Although unmarked, this bronze beach belle is most likely Austrian. Beginning in the mid-19th century, Vienna became the center of many foundries and ateliers producing a wide array of finely crafted artistic bronzes to adorn the homes of those wishing to subtly display their taste and wealth. Although pretty and petite, she is surprisingly heavy for her small size and perhaps could have served as a paperweight for a gentleman's desk.
Friday, March 3, 2023
Passing Muster(schutz)
Thursday, February 16, 2023
A Pretty Patrician Pincushion Doll
Monday, January 30, 2023
Another Coquette in a Corset
Friday, December 30, 2022
Powder Puff Pierrette
Friday, December 9, 2022
Badekinder Beach Boy
This 5.5-inch tall bisque boy is all fitted out for the beach in his original striped knit bathing suit. His bathing cap is of a stiffened oilcloth material and the tiny bundle tied to his right wrist may represent a sponge used for saltwater bathing. He is of a type of unjointed doll known as a badekinder (bathing children) in German, or, as dubbed by American collectors, frozen Charlottes (or frozen Charlies for boys), a name inspired by the folk ballad of "Fair Charlotte." There are no visible markings, and most of these early badekinder are unmarked, but he is of excellent German quality.
Monday, November 28, 2022
The Catalog is Complete!
I have finished uploading the original Hertwig and Company catalog. I may go back and scan some of the earlier pages that did not photograph particularly well, but the entire catalog is now on-line.
Friday, November 18, 2022
Staying Afloat
That is because this little beach boy is hollow, so when he is gently placed in water, he does the back float. Called badekinder (bathing children), they were produced in Germany as children’s playthings and bath toys. However, the delicate thin bisque shell could not tolerate too many knocks against the side of a bowl or bathtub, so few of these sweet little swimmers seem to have survived.
Monday, November 14, 2022
More Catalog Pages
In a race against software updates and driver glitches, I have added more pages to the Hertwig catalog. I have also scanned and reposted a couple of earlier pages that did not photograph well. After I have the entire catalog posted, software willing, I hope to go back and scan and post clearer images of some of the earlier pages.
Sunday, November 13, 2022
Back to Cataloging the Catalog
More updates to the Hertwig catalog page. I had lost the ability to coordinate my old scanner with my somewhat less old laptop. Apparently every time I update my laptop software, I now to have to delete my current scanner driver and reinstall a newer version, when one becomes available. Currently, everything appears to be working again and I am approaching the end of the catalog. Guess I better scan and post those last few pages before the next software update.