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.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Bathing Beauty of the Day; Day 8

 Ms. 366 is a slender sylph by the German company of Galluba and Hofmann.  Standing a statuesque 7.5 inches tall, she poses coyly on her pedestal, clad only in her black stockings and heeled pumps.  She is incised "405 M. m." on the bottom of the base and is stamped in red “Made in Germany.”   Her  mohair wig is a replacement.  She is of the finest bisque and decoration as is typical of Galluba.  These standing ladies are far scarcer than their reclining or seated sisters.  Not only did they require more skill to assemble and fire at the factory,  their dainty feet and delicate ankles are weak points and over the years many must have been broken. 

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