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, February 6, 2013

The Return of the Toothsome Toothpick Tootsies


This week I return to the review of a series of toothpick or match holders featuring a bisque beauty in a rather revealing outfit standing against a small container of green precolored bisque.  Although I do not know their manufacturer, I am certain it is not Schafer and Vater.  Like Ms. #504, who was featured on January 23rd, this buxom blonde wears a fairly scanty swimsuit.  Perhaps in keeping with the water theme, the  green precolored bisque container behind her features molded reeds.  Unmarked, except for a freehand "4" in blue, she is 5.5 inches tall.

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