The Bawdy Barmaid is the title given to a figure that was, in its time, considered erotica. By today's standards the figure is quite tame. The first example I saw was Victorian and a bit late for my taste. The lady looked just like a barmaid, but if you flipped her over there was a hole between her legs. This, apparently, was enough to get Victorian gentlemen in a twitter.
When I was at the Potteries Museum some visits ago, I noticed an early Bawdy Barmaid, beautifully enameled in a Lakin and Poole type palette. Quite yummy. Frankly, I can't remember what went on under her dress, but I assume that the naughty hole was present. What I do remember is that her dress was draped very prettily at the back, and I thought "Hmm, Myrna, wouldn't this look good in your collection?"....so I have been watching.
This Bawdy Barmaid now sits on my shelf.
When I was at the Potteries Museum some visits ago, I noticed an early Bawdy Barmaid, beautifully enameled in a Lakin and Poole type palette. Quite yummy. Frankly, I can't remember what went on under her dress, but I assume that the naughty hole was present. What I do remember is that her dress was draped very prettily at the back, and I thought "Hmm, Myrna, wouldn't this look good in your collection?"....so I have been watching.
This Bawdy Barmaid now sits on my shelf.
I was drawn to the pretty colors-- a lovely green, is that not?. and it looks great with the pink. And, as you can see, she is equally pretty from the back. Now what about underneath? The seller told me that a former owner has pasted a clay-like substance onto the underneath of the figure and he didn't know if it would come off. Anything but superglue comes off pottery with enough soaking (never use superglue to attach a broken piece, please....another story) So I bought the figure, without seeing an interior view.
While I waited for the figure to arrive, I contemplated the mindset of an owner who liked this figure enough to keep it---but just HAD to cover the hole. After all, even if there are children in the house, who looks? Has a visitor ever flipped over your figure to check beneath? The Puritanical mindset that wanted the figure but just had to cover a hole that nobody knew was there amused me. This had to have been done a long time ago, I thought. After all, today nobody would care. Long-time-ago was good for ease of removal. Natural, non-synthetic materials should just float away in some water.
When the barmaid arrived, this is what she looked like. A little out of focus...sorry, but it is the only shot I have. I couldn't wait to get her into a bucket of water.
While I waited for the figure to arrive, I contemplated the mindset of an owner who liked this figure enough to keep it---but just HAD to cover the hole. After all, even if there are children in the house, who looks? Has a visitor ever flipped over your figure to check beneath? The Puritanical mindset that wanted the figure but just had to cover a hole that nobody knew was there amused me. This had to have been done a long time ago, I thought. After all, today nobody would care. Long-time-ago was good for ease of removal. Natural, non-synthetic materials should just float away in some water.
When the barmaid arrived, this is what she looked like. A little out of focus...sorry, but it is the only shot I have. I couldn't wait to get her into a bucket of water.
Note a bucket, not the kitchen sink, because this stuff looked nasty. And it was suprisingly stubborn. As it softened, I picked away gently with a dental pick, being careful to leave the area with the hole till last. I really didn't want to fill the figure with water if the interior was unglazed.
As the brown stuff slowly lifted away, I noticed something strange. A long curly hair, painted onto the surface emerged at the edge of the once-covered area. Dear Reader, at this point I leave the rest to your genteel imagination. Suffice it to say, this Bawdy Barmaid lacked a hole. Instead, she was realistically painted (VERY realistically painted) in colors that included shades of flesh. red, and brown. No, I will not be adding a picture to our G-rated blog.
I know of only four early Bawdy Barmaids, so these are quite rare. And at last, I have a figure that my children may be interested in looking at! Meanwhile, notice the smile on my Barmaid's face....her lipstick has slipped. Seems the painter missed the mark with his paint and planted two lips firmly in the middle of the chin.
As the brown stuff slowly lifted away, I noticed something strange. A long curly hair, painted onto the surface emerged at the edge of the once-covered area. Dear Reader, at this point I leave the rest to your genteel imagination. Suffice it to say, this Bawdy Barmaid lacked a hole. Instead, she was realistically painted (VERY realistically painted) in colors that included shades of flesh. red, and brown. No, I will not be adding a picture to our G-rated blog.
I know of only four early Bawdy Barmaids, so these are quite rare. And at last, I have a figure that my children may be interested in looking at! Meanwhile, notice the smile on my Barmaid's face....her lipstick has slipped. Seems the painter missed the mark with his paint and planted two lips firmly in the middle of the chin.
