Collect Them All!: Sitzendorf Sea Siren Series

German manufacturers often produced a series of similar or related figurines. The challenge for the collector, of course, is to collect them all! This is a page from a 1929 catalogue of aquarium supplies from Grassyfork Fisheries, Inc. Entitled "Mermaid Combinations in Colors," the page offers "a new line of mermaid figurines mounted on representations of various forms of aquatic life imported by Grassyfork Fisheries." The figurines are said to be of bisque, "with attractive coloring and a luster finish of great beauty." Since luster is a glaze, the figurines would have to be of china, not bisque, but the catalogue often uses the terms interchangeably. Of the six figurines pictured, five are clearly not mermaids, but nude sea nymphs, their modesty ensured by a strategically placed drapery (or, in the case of the nubile nude on the crab, her own hands).

Here is the lady on the lobster. Of excellent china, and beautifully modeled, the figurine is 4.5 inches long and 3.25 inches high. The lobster has an airhole on his back and on top of the tail, which would release the air from inside the figurine when it was placed in the fish tank, preventing the figurine from floating and allowing the ornament to be anchored on the aquarium floor. Underneath the piece is incised "Ges. Gesch." and with the crowned "S" of the Sitzendorf Porcelain Factory. "Ges. Gesch" is short for "gesetzlich geschutzt," which means that patent rights have been granted and registered for the design.

This modest maiden has a right to be a bit crabby, as the "luster finish of great beauty" was not fired in and would slowly wash away when the piece was submerged in an aquarium. Her shelled steed shows such signs of wear on its shiny shell. Also incised with the Sitzendorf mark and "Ges. Gesch.," the piece is 3.5 inches high. Holes on each side of the crab's shell serve to release inside air.

This sea siren's starfish has lost almost all of its luster finish. There are airholes in the top of the starfish. Also 3.5 inches high, the piece is incised underneath with the Sitzendorf mark and "Ges. Gesch."






This femme's finny friend has retained its luster finish, showing how eye-catching the original coloring could be. There are small airholes in the fish's head and tail. Incised "Ges. Gesch.," the piece is 3.5 inches high and 4.25 inches long.


Toddling along on a turtle, this nude naiad is 4.25 inches long and is incised with the Sitzendorf mark and "Ges. Gesch."

Variations on a Theme by Galluba and Hofmann

German porcelain manufacturers were always seeking to expand their product lines to outpace their competitors and appeal to as wide a market as possible, but sculpting and molding an entirely new model was expensive and time consuming. Manufacturers cleverly solved this dilemma by modifying existing models to create a new product without the expense of developing a wholly new prototype. Here is a nubile nymph from Galluba and Hofmann who seems to be reaching out for a hug. She is 6 inches long and has retained her original mohair wig. On the inside of her left thigh she is incised "405 1/2," followed by an obscured letter. This is one of the less common poses produced by Galluba.

This pretty lady with her pussycat is the same model by Galluba, albeit in a larger size. Eight inches long, she is incised "424" followed by a lower case cursive "g" under both her left thigh and on the sole of her left foot. She has lost the fragile fingers on her right hand, which is unfortunately a common problem with this pose.

The friendly feline was molded and added during the greenware stage, giving Galluba the flexibility to place a pet on any of its standard bathing belles. Ladies have been found with attached cats, kittens, spaniels, dogs, and even a grinning imp. Any such addition make even the most common Galluba pose highly desirable.

Galluba produced a porcelain line designed to imitate ivory decorated with gold, such as this sultry sultana, barely clad in her costume of molded gold beads and jewels. Even her hair, which is molded in a chignon, and face is decorated in soft warm golden brown tones. Incised "9725" on her left buttock, she is 8 inches long.

Modeled in pure white bisque, this voluptuous beauty appears to be carved in marble. The largest of these ladies, she is 9.5 inches long, and is incised "9527" on the sole of her left foot.