Wigged Bathers
(updated 6/8/08; updated text appears in italics)
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This buxom bisque belle
is by the German firm of Galluba and Hofmann. Incised "405T" underneath,
she is 6" long, and, like all Galluba gals, is of the highest quality
and workmanship, with fine, pale tinted bisque and sharp, detailed modeling.
The ballet-type bathing slippers are molded, not merely painted, and are
found in white, pink, or light blue.
There is no mistaking the standard
Galluba face, with arched one stroke brows, intaglio blue eyes outlined
in black (although a few smaller dolls may just have black lid lines, usually
even on the smallest models the eyes are entirely outlined), deep black
pupils (each often highlighted with a white dot), red lid lines, and a full
coral lips. The blush is soft rose, never harsh or orange. This beauty is
currently being reproduced. Apparently the mold was made off of an existing
bathing beauty, which has resulted in blurring of the crisp modeling found
on the original. The reproduction's pink bisque tends to be higher colored,
the raised molding of the bathing slippers has been largely lost and the
slippers look merely painted on, the color of the slippers do not match
those found on the old originals, and the facial features are more simply
painted, lacking the fine detailed decoration of the original. This reproduction
is also appearing with painted sheer stockings and sometimes even a black
half mask.
This lovely lady by Galluba and Hofmann has been appearing in what appears
to be either a later reissue or a perhaps an older reproduction. The copy
is a bit of a mystery, made of tinted bisque with a rather pink, and sometimes
shiny, complexion. The bisque is rather rough, so it does not have the appearance
of new bisque, and the painting is appropriate for an old piece. She often
has a black long wig. The modeling is not as crisp as on the original, which
suggests the copy either was made from a worn mold or molded from an existing
piece. The copy is incised on the bottom "4289." Galluba
used a three-digit "400" number, often followed by a letter, on
its bathing beauty figurines. While Galluba did use a 9000 series on its
half dolls and a 4700 to 4800 series on its line of Salome figurines, all
the Galluba bathing belles I have ever seen, when they are numbered, have
a 400 number.
Of course, there is
no mistaking the detailed and delicate painting of the original Galluba.
While the facial painting on the copy is good, it does not match this standard
Galluba face, with its one stroke brows, red lid lines, intaglio blue eyes
outlined in black, deeply incised pupils with white highlights, and full
shapely coral lips
A version of this harem lady
by William Goebel is appearing in antiques marketplaces, including online.
Goebel products are known for their smooth rosy bisque, long slim limbs,
graceful hands, and slender feet. The fake version has the parrot on her
shoulder and extended thick arms and clumsy hands. The bisque is somewhat
rough and chalky and while the painting closely follows that of the original,
it is not of the same delicate quality. The fake often wears a long black
wig.
This buxom bisque belle
is by the German firm of Galluba and Hofmann. Incised "405T" underneath,
she is 6" long, and, like all Galluba gals, is of the highest quality
and workmanship, with fine, pale tinted bisque and sharp, detailed modeling.
The ballet-type bathing slippers are molded, not merely painted, and are
found in white, pink, or light blue.
There is no mistaking the standard
Galluba face, with arched one stroke brows, intaglio blue eyes outlined
in black (although a few smaller dolls may just have black lid lines, usually
even on the smallest models the eyes are entirely outlined), deep black
pupils (each often highlighted with a white dot), red lid lines, and a full
coral lips. The blush is soft rose, never harsh or orange. This beauty is
currently being reproduced. Apparently the mold was made off of an existing
bathing beauty, which has resulted in blurring of the crisp modeling found
on the original. The reproduction's pink bisque tends to be higher colored,
the raised molding of the bathing slippers has been largely lost and the
slippers look merely painted on, the color of the slippers do not match
those found on the old originals, and the facial features are more simply
painted, lacking the fine detailed decoration of the original. This reproduction
is also appearing with painted sheer stockings and sometimes even a black
half mask.
