Two New Year Babes

These two nubile nudes are by the German firm of Gebruder Heubach.   Although best known among collectors for its bisque figurines and dolls of charming character children, Heubach also created a wide variety of china and bisque figurines, often with a hint of art deco.  Its bathing belles and nudes are realistically modeled and beautifully decorated, but are also fairly hard to find.  Both of these lounging lasses are 7 inches long.

Another reason these Heubach bathers and nudes are often overlooked by collectors is that the figurines typically do not carry the company's mark, but are marked only with an incised number and a green "Made in Germany" inside a circle.  Both of these bare belles carry the circle mark, and the one on her side is incised with a partial number that appears to be "95/3."

The Heubach bathing beauties have a unique look, with rather square faces, narrow eyes, and short sleek bobbed hair.  Unlike the Heubach children, who are often portrayed as smiling or laughing, the ladies have rather enigmatic, introspective expressions.