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.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Bathing Beauty of the Week


Ms. #515 appears to be blowing a kiss to some lucky admirer.  She is a less common pose by Galluba and Hofmann, and although she is a mere two inches tall, this sweet petite displays the fine bisque and delicate decoration of her larger Galluba sisters.  She wears her original mohair wig and someone has done a very nice job of redressing her in antique net and silk ribbons.  There are no visible marks.

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