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.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Bathing Beauty of the Day: Day 13

 Ms. 373 is a rather demure damsel.  This 2.75 inch tall bisque nude wears her dark blonde hair in an unusual style, parted in center and coiled over each ear.  From an unknown maker, she is beautifully and realistically modeled, with her arms and legs free from her body, delicate hands with free thumbs, and well-detailed bare feet.  There are no marks. 

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