People of the Orient

Submitted by MeshuggaMel November 18th, 2009
Certifikitsch Winner
Orientals

Nothing adds flair to a pedestrian home like the ceramic figurine. Delicate and painted in rich colors, they lend an air of sophistication to any room. And what better air to lend than the exotic mysteries of the Orient?

These figures lean towards the more positive aspect of stereotypes – the grace and modest charms that suggest ancient wisdom, collective farming and superior math skills. Let’s just call it stylized subject matter.

Here we have two sitting figures in matching yellow outfits, she with a fan and he with a stringed instrument of some kind, doubtlessly wooing her. Behind them, a man and woman, here in red, share the burden of a heavy load, perhaps rice for the family. To their left, a kneeling girl in white enjoys the sun.

In front, we have kissing boy and girl bobbleheads, these of plastic, but their fine dress and innocent charms let them join the rest despite the material deficiency.

2 Responses to “People of the Orient”

  1. Allee Willis

    Similar to most collectors of Atomic ’50s artifacts – although I was the FIRST to actually amass a collection of it as best i know – my very first collection included a lot of Oriental figurines, sculptures and lamps mostly. I owned the serenaded and fanned ceramic woman first. Though her husband was missing, perhaps gathering rice for dinner. I also had the kneeling, sun worshiping wide-hatted gal. As far as the plastic kissing couple, they’re de rigueur in any Kitsch collection. Mine wasn’t made of the revered Kitsch building material, plastic, though but, rather, a hard papier-m√¢ch√© substance that chipped away bits of their necks every time they bobbled for a kiss.

  2. Nessa

    Hehe, nice collection!

    I have a couple of those “serenaded and fanned” lamps… they were in my aunt’s house when she moved and nobody wanted them but me. Of course I had to take them! My grandparents also had the paper-mache booble-head kissers on their dresser when I was a kid.