Bawdy Bisques and Naughty Novelties: German Bathing Beauties and Their Risqué Kin

As the Victorian era passed into the Edwardian and Roaring Twenties, a market developed for bisque and china naughty novelties and figurines of women in revealing outfits. These little lovelies include bathing beauties, who came clad in swimsuits of real lace or stylish painted beach wear, as well as mermaids, harem ladies, and nudies, who wear only an engaging smile. Also produced were flippers (innocent appearing figurines who reveal a bawdy secret when flipped over) and water squirters. ...