289. FLAPPER COUPLE CAKETOPPER

Now here's a cake topper couple in a non-traditional pose. Instead of the stiff, formal figure of a bride and groom standing in rigid attention, these newlyweds are in a dancing mode, the bride in a winsome flapper dress that harkens back to the '30s.  Made of celluloid, this 3.5 inch bridal topper may have been produced in Japan. Cake toppers have been known since the turn of the 20th century. The first toppers were actual mini-dolls dressed to look like the bride and groom. Since then, they have been made of porcelain, bisque, plaster, plastic and fabric. The 50s were the heyday of cake toppers, and there is a growing horde of topper hoarders who collect these as wedding collectibles, mementos of a happy milestone in peoples' lives. To them, we say Best Wishes!!

288. BUDDHA INCENSE HOLDER

Now here's a small Buddha incense holder made from delicate porcelain. It is another one of those Made in Japan pieces and probably dates back to the 50s. Incense sticks were stuck behind the figure and the ashes were collected in the opening at the back--now that's neat!

Religious figures often inspire artisans to come up with objects for domestic use. I have seen the Blessed Virgin converted into a bottle, a Jesus planter, and a Saint Joseph night lamp. I guess this incense holder is more appropriate to Buddha. In any case, I like the nostalgia this piece evoked, and the bright, vivid colors add to the appeal. It sits on my desk now, not as an incense holder but as a receptacle for my paper clips, a reminder to keep calm and work, work, work!!

287. A DACHSHUND NAMED VICTOR

I don't even know why I got this stuffed pooch. Handmade from corduroy, it's supposed to represent a dachshund--but a red dachshund? Well, I guess there lies its odd charm. This must have been made for a little boy to play with, a canine-loving kid named Victor. The name of the owner is spelled out on top of the dog's head using cut-out felt letters. Alas, the letter "R"is missing!

The dog has button eyes, floppy corduroy ears and kapok stuffing--which makes this probably a relic from the 50s. It's pretty well-preserved, which means that it must have been treasured by Victor, who lived up to the saying that indeed, a man's best friend is his dachshund.

286. BISQUE KIDS

Found this trio of bisque figures of kids--two girls in winter outfits and a little softballer. The heads are movable.. I'm almost sure they were made in Japan for the export market--I see these a lot in glass cabinets of many ancestral homes. No more than 3 inches tall, these adorable figurines sit perfectly on a wooden shadow box...not too precious, but still as decorative as they were made over 80 years ago!