I Put a Spell on You. . .

Because you're mine

Because you're mine. . . .

"I Put a Spell on You," Screamin' Jay Hawkins, 1956

This sensual sorceress, clad only in the barest of baubles and beads, does cast an enchanting spell. She is one of the series of harem ladies by Galluba and Hofmann, wearing elaborate, if exiguous, outfits of molded golden beadwork and jewels. Like some of the series, she is colored only the palest cream with her features picked out in tans and brown, giving her the look of an ivory carving. Just 4.5 inches tall, she is incised under her base "9688." The company used a 9000 series on many of its lovely odalisques. 

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder. . .

 . . .and I think this middle-aged bathing belle is utterly gorgeous. From the firm of Galluba and Hofmann, better known to collectors for their slender bathing beauties, this more mature matron is beautifully sculpted, capturing every well-earned roll and wrinkle. 

As you who've followed this blog know, I am very cautious about the use of the word "rare," but I think the term can be used to describe this delightful dowager. She joins her sister, already in my collection. While the new addition has molded brown hair with slight washes of gray and a molded bathing cap, my other example wears her original mohair wig, also touched with gray, and her original net bathing suit. 

Together they appear to be critically critiquing fellow beachgoers. . . 

. . . perhaps something along these lines.

Both sisters are 5.5 inches long and 4.75 inches high. Although the sister in swimwear has no visible marks, her nude sibling is incised on the bottom "80423 TT."

Both grande dames are pictured on this page from the Galluba catalog. The belle in the beehive and net swimsuit is featured on the second row with the model number "T80423TT." In the center of the bottom row is another lady of a certain age in what appears to be black lace bathing attire and molded hair and bonnet, perhaps edged with a bit of lace, with the model number "80423TTA." The additional letters may have been provided so that potential buyers could clearly indicate which model they were ordering.

Both ladies have their right hand folded behind their hip. Perhaps they were caught in mid-gesture as they were placing the hand on that hip, but I like to think that they are secretly signaling that cute cabana boy.

These senior sirens with their very realistic modeling are very different from the typical Galluba bathing beauties with their idealized cameo faces, tiny heads balanced on often too-long necks, wide shoulders, breasts that stand up like two scoops of ice cream regardless of the pose, and long legs and arms often out of proportion to the body. Despite their beach wear, the average Galluba bather has the palest complexion, while these two are deeply tanned. Featured earlier on this blog is another rare example from Galluba, the handsome beach beau. He shares the same detailed anatomy, expressive features, and bronze tan. I wonder whether these two models were sculpted by the same designer.

A close up of their unique faces. They in fact appear to be exchanging a meaningful glance. Perhaps that cabana boy has just lost his tip!

Man, oh man!

Anyone who has followed this blog knows that one bathing beauty (or should I say beach beau?) I have been searching for is the male version of the Galluba and Hofmann bather, pictured in this catalog page on the second from the top row at the far left edge. 

The elusive gentleman has finally deigned to join my collection, much to the joy of my bevy of bisque beauties. Here he is in all his male glory (well, not exactly all, as, shall we say, he is in no need of a fig leaf).  Of excellent bisque, he is 4 inches high and 4.5 inches long. He is superbly sculpted, with detailed musculature. Unlike Galluba's bathing belles, who are literally the fairest of the fair, his complexion is a golden tan.

He has strong, handsome male features. With those sultry dark eyes and sleek raven locks, he could pass for a matinee idol of the silent silver screen.

In fact, I think he gives off a bit of a Rudolph Valentino vibe. . . 

A dash of dark shadowing emphasizes his cheekbones.

Under his left thigh he is incised with "80423 P.P." This is the same model number that appears on the catalog page. 

As seen on the catalog page, and in this example from the Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City, originally he wore a black knit tank suit. However, I don't think that I am going to redress him. It seems such a shame of cover up those perfect pecs and amazing abs. . . .

not to mention that bodacious bum!

Nice Kicks

Throughout Europe, shoes have long been a symbol of prosperity, luck, and fertility. With the expansion of the porcelain industry, and the Victorian's love of knick-knacks, miniature shoes of china and porcelain, often with elaborate adornments, became a popular collectible and gift. This fanciful footwear is by the German firm of Galluba and Hofmann, demonstrating that this company produced products other its famed bathing beauties and fashion ladies, often featured on this blog.

The shoes are lavishly decorated with applied flowers and gilt (I wonder why I have never seen on of their lovely ladies so bedecked?). The pink shoes are trimmed with blue forget-me-not flowers, a popular decoration on china ornaments of the period, which were often given as gifts. Both pieces are 4 inches long and the boot is 3.5 inches high.

Each is stamped on the sole with Galluba's crowned shield mark. 

 

Gayly Sounds the Castanet,

Beating time to bounding feet, 

When, after daylight's golden set, 

Maids and youths by moonlight meet.

Maltese Air, Thomas Moore (1779-1852)

A collector would be happy to meet such a maiden as this by moonlight or daylight. Of excellent china, this 9-inch tall dancing damsel is by the German firm of Galluba and Hofmann. She is beautifully modeled, from her slender arms curving out from her slim, yet shapely, body to the whirling swirl of her skirts. Although this figurine is only incised inside base with "5603," I have seen other examples with Gallup's crowned shield mark.  

 

A Pretty Patrician Pincushion Doll

This very elegant and lovely lady is by the German firm of Galluba and Hofmann, whose bevies of bathing belles populate this blog. But Galluba also created a series of aristocratic pincushion ladies, often endowed with towering coifs or large elaborate hats.  Of excellent china, she is 3.75 inches tall and incised "5434" on the back of her base.

This closeup reveals the typical Galluba perfect oval cameo face, long slender neck, and wide sloping shoulders.

 

Knittin' with a Kitten

Galluba and Hofmann is renown among collectors for its voluptuous bathing beauties and aristocratic fashion ladies, but the company also produced some charming children with all the same delicate details and fine workmanship it lavished on its lovely ladies. This endearing double figurine features a little girl  engaged in knitting while a boy stands in front of his school satchel. The boy appears to be lecturing from a large open book, but the girl is more interested in the antics of the cute kitten batting at the ball of yarn by her feet. Both wear their original light brown mohair wigs, the boy's with large curls and the girl's long and wavy with straight bangs. They have the typical Galluba intaglio blue eyes with black pupils and black and red lid lines and their parted slightly smiling coral lips reveal tiny molded teeth. The modeling is superb, from the children's rosy faces and graceful hands to the folds and ruffles in their outfits. Of excellent sharp bisque, this doubly delightful figurine is 3.5 inches wide, and 5.5 inches tall. 

Underneath the piece is stamped in black with the Galluba and Hofmann shield and incised "383." 

 

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.   

 

On a Pedestal

Certainly any lady this lovely deserves to be on a pedestal. This bisque belle by the German firm of Galluba and Hofmann comes attached to her original stand, which is covered in golden velvet and adorned with real seashells. No doubt she once wore a bathing suit of silk net or lace, now lost to time. I suspect she may have been a high-end souvenir for an exclusive spa or seaside resort. The entire assembly is 7.5 inches high (the lass alone is 6.5 inches).  She wears molded white ballet-style bathing slippers and is marked with a blurred 400 number on the back her base of molded foliage.

The unusual base is of a deep green hard substance (possibly pasteboard), with an incised diamond pattern underneath. I do not know if the base is a creation of Galluba or a jobber who purchased figurines from the company for use in its own designs. 

 

Binocular Vision

This exquisitely elegant aristocratic lady is a vision indeed. By Galluba and Hofmann, this this half doll holds a pair of binoculars in her right hand. Perhaps she is watching the races at the Royal Ascot and forgot her hat. . . and a bit more.

She retains her original mohair wig.  Her perfect oval face, cameo-like features, slender neck, and sloping shoulders are the epitome of Edwardian beauty.

Of flawless fine bisque and workmanship, this belle with binoculars is 4 inches tall and incised “5691” on the back edge of the base. 

Frog Prince

Open the door, my princess dear, 

Open the door to thy true love here! 

And mind the words that thou and I said 

By the fountain cool, in the greenwood shade.

In the fairy tale "The Frog Prince," a princess playing by a well accidentally drops her golden ball into it.  A frog offers to fetch it for her if she promises to be his playmate and bring him to live with her in her castle.  The princess agrees, but when the frog returns her ball, she runs away, leaving, so she thinks, the frog behind,  However, soon the frog appears at the castle, demanding entrance.  When the king hears the frog's story, he tells his daughter she must keep her promise and she reluctantly allows the frog to sit by her at the table and eat out of her plate.  Later the frog demands that the princess carry him to her bedroom, place him on her bed, and let him sleep on her pillow.  In some versions, after the frog sleeps there for three nights, he turns into a handsome prince; in others, he changes after the princess either kisses him or, in a bizarre and violent twist, slams him against a wall.  

If this figurine of a kneeling nude confronting a rather forward frog was inspired by the fairy tale, it looks as if the ambitious amphibian has demanded a little more than merely sleeping on the lovely lady's pillow! Of excellent china, this figurine is this 5.5 inches tall and was created by the German firm of Galluba and Hofmann. 

From the woman's slightly smiling expression, she seems willing to accede to the frog's demands on the chance there might just be an enchanted prince involved.

Underneath the base the figurine is incised "21" and stamped in green with Galluba and Hofmann crowned shield mark.

Also incised on left rear edge of the base is what appears to be "L Lonk (or maybe "Lank?") Nov 25." It is not unusual to find a sculptor's signature on fine bisque and china figurines of the early 1900s.  Renown German sculptor Otto Poertzel (1876-1963) initially trained and worked as a porcelain modeler at A. W. Fr. Kister., where his father was already a designer, and some figurines from this factory are incised with his signature.  However, I have not been able to trace the artist of this female and her froggy friend. 

Happy Boxing Day!

The day after Christmas is celebrated in the United Kingdom as Boxing Day.  It doesn't involve fisticuffs, but traditionally was a day when servants and service providers received a Christmas box or other gift or gratuity.  This gracious lady seated upon a silk-covered box would be a welcome gift for any collector.  Her bisque shoulder head, arms, and lower limbs are from the German maker Galluba and Hofmann.  She is on a wrapped armature body and is 10.25 inches tall.  Her bench box is wood, lined with cream paper, and covered in silk.  The tufted upholstery even has tiny buttons.  

Her lovely face has what I call the "smokey eye" variation.  Instead of the typical Galluba blue eyes with intaglio pupils highlighted with a dot of white and red upper lid lines, the entire intaglio eye is black and the eyes shaded with a sultry gray shadow.  Her smiling lips expose tiny molded teeth.

Her clothing is securely sewn and glued in place, but you can seen the unusual holes for attaching the arms and shoulder plate that seems to be unique to Galluba.  In this case, however, the arms are attached to the underlying armature and not directly to the shoulder plate.

This is not a break, as the edge is finished and you can see the corresponding holes around the edge of the shoulder.  This is a variation of the Galluba shoulder heads that allowed the arm to be attached in a different position.

Under the mesh pink stockings you can see that the lower legs have molded ribbed blue socks.  One is faintly incised "Germany" at the knee.  The shoes are also molded, but have been covered with narrow ribbon and given paper soles. 

Searching on the Internet, I found two other examples of similar candy boxes featuring a Galluba fashion lady dressed in tiers of lace and ribbon and seated on a silk-tufted candy box posing as a bench or ottoman.  This example is from Pinterest, but had no identifying information.

Another beautiful box from Dolls and Lace.  Note this belle on a box has a wig of the same blond floss as on my example.  Most significantly, she has her original label under her ottoman, stating "Alareine de Fleurs/J Daccard/Limoges/06 Rue de Clocher." J. Daccord was a confiserie (confectionary) store that operated in Limoges, France from the early 1900s as late as the 1960s.  And this box is a confection indeed and as sweet a treat as any candy it may have once held.  I suspect that Daccord or perhaps some French company bought the bisque shoulder heads and limbs from Galluba and transformed them into these elaborate chocolate boxes.

Playing with her Pussy. . . cat

Striking a playful pose with a feline friend, this 5-inch long bisque bathing beauty is part of a scarce series by Galluba and Hofmann of lovely ladies lounging with their pets.  Her mohair wig is a replacement, but she retains the remains of her silk net bathing suit with shredded faded red bows at neckline and on back.  There are no visible marks.  

 The cute kitten in the blue bow was molded separately and added to his mischievous mistress during the greenware stage.  This allowed Galluba to use its existing bathing beauty models and expand its offerings by simply adding an assortment of animal companions.  The additions included two different types of cats, a spaniel, a French bulldog, and even a very rare devilish imp.  Here is the same model, sans pussycat, who appeared earlier in this blog.