Although wax half dolls and bathing belles were popular decorative items in the early 1900s, few have survived. Bisque and china will certainly shatter or chip if dropped or handled roughly, but otherwise can stand the vicissitudes of time and temperature. A waxen lass, whether solid or a wax coat over plaster or chalk, has a far more ephemeral epidermis, easily scratched or dented, subject to cracking in cold weather or softening on hot days. The features painted on top of the wax tend to rub off or fade over time. This original catalog from the Germany company of Ernst Scheddin offering tea doll heads ("teepuppenköpfen") and wax figures ("wachsfiguren") shows the delightful variety and the delicate beauty of these vulnerable belles. I have not been able to find any background information of this factory, but the catalog most likely dates from the late 1910s though the 1920s.
The introduction states that while the catalog displays the factory's standard articles, there are many variations and, on request, similar figures can be created in wax or chalk.
The top row of "tea doll heads" have a wax coating and can be ordered with a smooth or matte finish. The second row are of wax.
The top picture displays wax heads for assembling dolls or pincushions, while the lower offers cute chubby cherubs in wax.
Wax half dolls with movable full arms and wonderful wigs.
"Aktfiguren," a fancy way of saying nekkid ladies. . . .
Wax figures offered dressed with bits or ribbon or displayed on fancy pincushions.
These are supplemental pages offering additional decorative damsels.
Certainly my favorite page, displaying bathing beauties both nude ("nackt") or painted with glitter ("flitterbemalung"), some posing with paper parasols.
