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, May 26, 2016

Cock of the Walk

This blog has previously pictured naughty novelties playing on the double entendre regarding the affectionate name for a kitty cat and a vulgar term for a woman's genitalia.  But German companies also engaged in such prurient wordplay regarding another term for a rooster and a man's private parts.  And as far as the German manufacturers were concerned, size did matter!  Schafer and Vater produced a series of buxom blondes clad only in their white chemises and black stockings engaged in provocative play with plus-sized poultry.  However, this bisque belle and her feathered friend show that Schafer was not the only company to portray a damsel in dishabille with a cheeky Chantecler.  From an unknown company, this figurine is 4.5 inches long and incised "3803."   



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