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, March 27, 2013

Bathing Beauty of the Week


Ms. #538 is another bare-bottomed belle.  She is one of the fanciest flippers I have seen, from her fetching hat with its yellow plumes to the hand-painted flowers on her flaring skirt to her high-heeled pumps with ballet-type ties.  This colorful coquette is of the finest bisque and decoration, but is not marked.    


Turn her over, and you see that she is so intent on tying her shoes, she neglected to close her knickers. 

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