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.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

This Bathing Beauty will Bring a Smile to Your Face. . . .

literally, in fact, because she is a toothbrush holder.  The chore of brushing your teeth would be a treat when you had this flirtatious flapper to look at.  Of excellent china, this brush-holding belle is 4 inches tall and 3.25 inches wide.  On each side of the yellow base is a small rectangular opening for holding a toothbrush. 

 
While most vintage toothbrush holders were made to stand on a sink or bathroom shelf, this holder would have hung on a wall, with the triangular opening for a nail or hook.  I suspect not too many survived, because a careless bump could send this fragile femme crashing to the tiled floor and her demise.  This piece is incised on back "777" and is of fine German quality. 
 
 

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