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.

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Belles of the Ball, Part 3


These china charmers have been pictured previously on this blog, but they represent yet another version of the beauteous belles of the ball by Galluba and Hofmann.


Clearly, this pretty pair was inspired by this postcard by the Spanish artist, Luiz Usabal Y Hernandez, In Galluba's interpretation, the lithe lasses look a bit more ladylike than lascivious, but otherwise Galluba carefully copied everything from the pose to the gowns.  


Here all three of Gallubas belles take a turn around the ballroom, showing how one postcard inspired a trio of delectable double damsels.


No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)