Bawdy Bisques and Naughty Novelties: And This Little Piggy. . .

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, November 16, 2023

And This Little Piggy. . .

. . . hit the beach. This glamorous gilt is another example of a pink pig fairing, popular from the late 1800s through the turn of the last century. She is part of an entire genre of bisque and china figurines featuring pink pigs engaged in typically human activities, often with a comical or satirical theme. This pulchritudinous porker has decided to bake her hams at the seaside, daintily descending from a bathing machine in her pink bathing suit bedecked with bows. Of excellent sharp bisque, this piece is five inches high and incised "4673" on the back. The top of the bathing machine is open to serve as a vase.

Bawdy Bisques and Naughty Novelties

Postcard Image

Thursday, November 16, 2023

And This Little Piggy. . .

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