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.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Getting Crabby

Cancer the Crab is the zodiac sign for those born from June 22nd to July 23rd. So this month's theme provides something to crab about.

Talk about fresh seafood! This china powder box features an astonished bathing beauty and an overly friendly crustacean. Six inches tall, it is incised underneath with the Sitzendorf crown and “23908.”







Another sea side sunbather and a sulky shellfish. This is a "nipper," a novelty bottle that once held a "nip" of alcohol. By the German firm of Schafer and Vater, this bisque bottle is incised “3876” on the back of base and is 4.5 inches tall.









This nude nymph tries to ward off a tiny crab crawling up her lithe leg. Incised “15223” and “Germany," this panicked pincushion is 4 inches long.

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