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, December 16, 2021

In the Hood

A bisque bathing belle in her own wicker beach chair would have been a most appealing seaside souvenir. And none could have been more alluring this lissome lass in her hooded beach chair with its silken canopy. By Galluba and Hofmann, the bathing beauty herself is 4.5 inches. She wears her original mohair wig tied up a silk scarf. The form fitting tank suit is of a black knit material with a tiny red embroidered anchor at each thigh. This is not the typical bathing attire found on Galluba's bathers and one wonders whether it was the individual creation of a talented seamstress or if some jobber ordered ladies au naturel from Galluba and had them dressed in this delightful and detailed swimwear. Although she is not tied into her beachside seat, she fits it perfectly. The beach chair does appear to be a commercial creation, as underneath is carries a penciled inventory number "502/B." This belle and beach chair certainly would have been a marvelous memento of some high-end seaside resort.   



 

Thursday, December 9, 2021