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 24, 2012

Bathing Beauty of the Week


Long-legged Ms. #520 is by my favorite maker, A.W. Fr. Kister.   Of the finest bisque and workmanship, this 8 inch tall delectable dancer is incised underneath Kister's crosshatched "S"  and "3" over "12040."  Her breasts have molded and tinted nipples, typical for this maker, and she wears unusual molded thigh-high white stockings with scalloped tops.  The brown mohair wig is a replacement, and her ruffled pink and blue miniskirt, which perfectly matches her molded heeled pumps, is new.  One wonders how this lovely and lithe lady was originally wigged and costumed.

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