Tag Archives: Kitsch Collectibles

Amusing novelty, whimsy wares and kitsch objects

 

Agnieszka-Beer-figurine sculpture

Agnieszka Beer – figurine sculpture

 

 

Japanese figural-teapot of man with smiling face

Japanese ceramic figural sculptural teapot

 

 

Aesthetic of whimsy and the  pleasingly distasteful

In perplexing times, the tendency to gravitate towards sources of fun and frivolity increase exponentially, which might explain the proliferation of kitchy, novelty products and amusing objects of whimsy at the moment. Vulgarity and the cheesy and tacky in life and art has existed forever and has been a regular source of humor and entertainment. The not too subtle Kitsch pieces or whimsical wares with a quirky twist, that solicit a smile or chuckle, without demanding too much mental input, have a timeless appeal. The connoisseurs of the lowbrow and the pleasingly distasteful love to admire these intentionally edgy creations or conversely, totally unintentional kitsch classics, for their creativity or lack thereof. Kitsch is synonymous with all that is spurious in these modern times, while being palatable for its simple charm.  Provocative, crude, disarming, idiosyncratic, brilliant and cute are some of the clever ploys indulged by the inventive creators to capture your curiosity. Anyway, momentarily suspend your daily concerns and revel in this selection of novelty, kitsch and whimsy objects. Needless to say, today’s quirky or crass could be tomorrows object of desire for savvy collector’s.

 

 

 

 

Poker Face Jug folk art-Gambler pottery sculpture cards by Mitchell Grafton

Poker Face Jug folk art Gambler with cards pottery sculpture  —  by Mitchell Grafton

 

 

Ceramics-Gerasimenko-dog-sculpture

Smiling dog sculpture — Gerasimenko

 

Ladies-Toasting-Large-Serving-Platter---Handmade-sgraffito-carved-ceramic-stoneware-GravesCo---etsy

 Large Serving Platter with ladies toasting —Handmade sgraffito carved ceramic stoneware

GravesCo—etsy

 

 

ZF-silver Mosaic-statue

ZF Mosaic – – silver statue and monumental vases, China

 

 

Jacquline Hurlbert ceramic female sculpture

Jacquline Hurlbert

Etsy

 

 

Vipoo Srivilasa-For the Future - quirky figurine

‘For the Future’ – Vipoo Srivilasa

 

 

 

 

Caleb-Nefzen-Huntress-figure sculpture female warrior and beast

Caleb Nefzen  —  ‘Huntress’

 

 

Prous armchair by Alessandro Mendini

Proust Armchair by Alessandro Mendini for Magi

Mendini is described as the “saturnine conceptualist of Italian Postmodernism”.

 

 

Rimas Visgirda White stoneware with coarse feldspar, black underglaze, wax inlay, underglaze pencil, glaze, overglazes, lusters

Rimas Visgirda

White stoneware with coarse feldspar, black underglaze, wax inlay, underglaze pencil, glaze, overglazes, lusters

 

 

hula girl glamour pin up girl lamp--kitsch-hawaiian-50s-style--leopard-skin

Hula girl glamour pin up lamp

 

 

Jean de Lespinasse--vintag -50s 60 Vallauris rectangular dish

Jean de Lespinasse — vintage 50s -60s Vallauris, France

 

 

Tiki head-planter with succulant

Tiki head planter

 

 

Pierrot wall pocket Jérôme Massier-Valleuris

Pierrot wall pocket by Jérôme Massier, Valleuris

 

 

Peter Hermansson (Swedish), Glass Blower, 

Peter Hermansson

 

 

Jean Derval Mermaid sculpture vase-circa-1950

Jean Derval Mermaid sculpture vase

circa-1950

 

 

Hedi-Schoop-496-mid-century-trinket Lily--lady-pottery-vase

Hedi Schoop Mid-century ceramic trinket lilly

 

 

 

Jane Sauer Gallery---Irina Zaytceva--Sagittarius Cup

Irina Zaytceva — ‘Sagittarius Cup’

Jane Sauer Gallery

 

 

Clarice Cliff cubist Art Deco teapot with standing flapper handle

Clarice Cliff cubist Art Deco teapot with standing flapper girl handle

 

 

Vintage red wind-up robot with startled face

Vintage red wind-up robot

 

 

Anturion Gallery Shipibo-Ceramic vessel

Shipibo-Ceramic vessel

Anturion Gallery

 

 

madame-doom-figurine--heroes-of-the-north

Madame Doom

 

 

Striped green Gourd-Carved--Ghoul-Gallery

Carved gourd — ‘Crazy Gourd’ pumpkin character

Ghoul Gallery

 

 

‘Bride Of Frankenstein’ ceramic Candy Jar

 

 

lorna-bailey-relief-vase neo art deco

Lorna Bailey neo Art Deco

 

 

 

Brinsley Tyrrell, artefact ceramic cup

Brinsley Tyrrell

 

 

Carlton Ware Novelty Motor Car Teapot-Austin-A-35

Carlton Ware Novelty Austin Motor Car Teapot

 

 

Cia Manna Ballerina--Indian-Dancer,-1930-Ceramic figurine

Cia Manna Ballerina–Indian Dancer

1930

 

 

Clay Creation - Firefly Art

Clay Creation – Firefly Art

 

 

Dahl Arts-Studio, pottery anomorphic Figure sculpture

Dahl Arts Studio, ceramic figure

 

 

Two space men figures

Space Men

 

Essevi-Sandro-Vacchetti-Lenci

Figlio Dell’amore

Essevi — Sandro Vacchetti — Lenci

 

 

Figgjo Ceramic Covered Casserole dog motif

Figgjo Ceramic Covered Casserole

 

Female head, Modeled from the Aphrodite of Cnidus -- 5th-4th-centuries BC

Female head, modeled from the Aphrodite of Cnidus

5th-4th centuries BC

 

 

Frankie & his bride magnetic salt & pepper shakers

‘Frankie & his bride’ magnetic salt & pepper shakers

 

 

Sculpture bust head morph

Sculpture bust head morph

 

 

Vintage Dorothy Kindell-ques-Chartreuse-Siamese-or-Balinese-Pottery-Couple

Dorothy Kindell Siamese dancing figures

 

 

Grim Reaper coffee mug by Sourpuss novelty ware

Grim Reaper coffee mug by Sourpuss

 

 

Young Buddha figurine

Young Buddha figurine meditation mudra

 

 

 

 

Inflatable-toys-ceramic-sculptures-brett-kern

Inflatable toy ceramic dinosaur sculpture  –  Brett Kern

Solid Ceramic Sculptures that create the iIllusion that they are inflatable toys

 

 

Beethoven meets Planet of the Apes – Meissen figurine – Saxony

 

 

Jacqueline Thompson ceramics Suzy Wong tattoo vase

Jacqueline Thompson ceramics Suzy Wong tattoo vase

 

 

Black Cat with turquoise eyes ceramic lamp

Black Cat with turquoise eyes ceramic lamp

 

 

Joe Bova -- Biter ceramic sculpture+Sherrie Gallerie

Joe Bova — ‘Biter’ ceramic sculpture

Sherrie Gallerie

 

 

Jonathan Adler-White Whale Pitcher

Jonathan Adler – White Whale Pitcher

 

 

Josephine Baker wall sculpture

Vintage Josephine Baker wall sculpture

 

 

kitsch9-Allen Jones - sculpture Secretarias

Allen Jones – sculpture ‘Secretarias’

 

 

Andy Nasisse Black Dot Jar ceramic+Sherrie Gallerie

Andy Nasisse ‘Black Dot Jar’ ceramic bust

Sherrie Gallerie

 

 

Kitschy 1950s Polynesian Belly Dancer Chalkware Lamp by TikiTiger,

Polynesian Belly Dancer Chalkware Lamp by TikiTiger

 1950’s

 

Lady Boss Coffee Mug-Gift,-Walking-Pottery,-Whimsical-Ware,

Lady Boss Walking Coffee Mug  —  Santino Dipiazza

Etsy – Walking Pottery

 

 

Large vase in terracotta colour with Bird illustrations by Ingela P Arrhenius for Kitsch Kitchen

Large vase in terracotta colour with Bird illustrations by Ingela P Arrhenius for Kitsch Kitchen

 

 

Limoges Porcelain White Poodle Dog on Brown Round Trinket Box

Limoges Porcelain White Poodle Dog on Brown Round Trinket Box

 

 

Love never dies salt & pepper shakers Pacific Giftware

‘Love never dies’ salt & pepper shakers —  Pacific Giftware

 

 

Marjorie-Pitz, ceramic sculpture bust Leaf Lady Holding Bird

Marjorie Pitz, ceramic sculpture bust ‘Leaf Lady Holding Bird’

 

 

MCM-art-tiki-Mid-Century wall plaque

MCM art Tiki Mid Century wall plaque

 

 

Ceramic mermaid bookends

 

 

Ceramic teal monster mug

Ceramic teal monster mug

 

 

Lamp Figurine Statu Clown-Pierrette Harlequin-Art-Deco

Art Deco Pierrette Lamp

 

 

Munktiki-tiki-mug with mosnter face

Munktiki tiki mug

 

 

 

Pot Calling the Kettle Black Funny Mug by dirtydishes on Etsy

‘Pot Calling the Kettle Black Funny Mug’ by dirtydishes on Etsy

 

 

Pre-Columbian-Ecuador-Reptilian Yeti sculpture

Pre Columbian Ecuador Reptilian Yeti sculpture

 

 

Rare Vintage Sigma by Meadow DRACULA Vampire Ceramic Teapot 10inch tall Japan

Rare Vintage Sigma by Meadow DRACULA Vampire Ceramic Teapot

10 inch tall Japan

 

 

Roberto Lugo--The Notorious B.I.G teapot

Roberto Lugo — ‘The Notorious B.I.G teapot’

 

 

Robot figural ceramic bank. Gasoline Alley Antiques

Robot figural ceramic money bank.

Gasoline Alley Antiques

 

 

Vintage Big Eyed Pity Puppy by Margaret Keane

60’s

 

 

Sculpted-Vampire-Bat-mug in black and silver

Sculpted Vampire Bat mug

 

 

Alexandra Koláčková ceramic sofa

Alexandra Koláčková ceramic sofa

 

Spartus-sunburst-clock with Mid Century decor

Spartus sunburst clock with Mid Century decor

 

 

-Sacha-Baron-Cohen-plays-on-the-fact-that-kitsch-is-used-by-dictators-and-fundamentalists-to-redefine-our-world

Sasha Baron Cohen dressed in kitsch Dictator attire displaying his prize kitsch possession of a Kim Jong Un golden vase.

Ocsars 2012

 

 

Tiziano Galli--ceramica di donna Lenci-era

Ceramic bust by Tiziano Galli, Italy

 

 

Traffic Warden Salt And Pepper Pots Set Novelty Kitsch

Traffic Wardens Salt And Pepper Pots –  Novelty Kitsch

 

 

Unique, hand-thrown vase with porcelain slip in Emeraldo Herrera glaze with gold tips and belly The Haas Brothers

Hand-thrown vase with porcelain slip in Emeraldo Herrera glaze with gold tips and belly —  The Haas Brothers

 

 

 

Vintage Ceramic Arts Studio Dancers ZOR & Zorina Wall Figurines Green

Vintage Ceramic Arts Studio Dancers Zor & Zorina Green Wall Figurines

 

 

 

 

Peter Hermansson modernist glass vase

Peter Hermansson modernist glass vase

 

 

Walking-Pottery-etsy

‘Crime Doesn’t Pay’ eggcups – Santino Dipiazza

Etsy – Walking Pottery

 

 

Zebra ceramic Teapot-by Blue Sky

Zebra ceramic teapot by Blue Sky

 

 

Ann Maree Gentile ceramic figurines

Ann Maree Gentile ceramic figurines

 

 

 

Kitsch and quirky tribute

 

Kitsch Art in the ceramics world

 

The word kitsch is German for tasteless, aesthetically deficient and crass. The term originated in the art markets of Munich as a descriptive expression for cheap, popular , sentimental pieces of art, marketed to appeal to undiscriminating taste. As art became more commercialized, and the culture industry became more manipulated, some feared the popularity of kitsch  was a threat to culture. With the emergence of postmodernism in the 80’s where the borders between high art and kitsch became more blurred and a more ironic appreciation of the corny style of kitsch developed, it became more accepted as a valid art form. The demand  for  the outlandish, tacky and pretentious has not abated and there are still many fervent collectors out there. Kitsch collectibles still turn up at garage sales, church fetes and op shops and are a  worthwhile investment if you happen to chance upon one of these desirable, audacious, objects of art.

 

White Casper Ceramic cookie jarCasper Ceramic cookie jar

 

 

StrawberryBunch of red grapes lidded jar

 

pink striped ceramic vasePink striped ceramic vase

 

 

Corn cob Ceramic Salt and Pepper Shakers

 

 

Blue jeans mug

Blue Jeans Ceramic Mug

 

 

ceramic-figure-vase with dog

Indian pottery

popeye ceramic figurine

Popeye

 

the beatles ceramic figurine

The Beatles

 

Ceramic Skull

Mexican ceramic ‘Sugar Skull’

 

Hornsea pottery 1950s cat family 1950’s Cat family figurines designed by Marion Campbell for Hornsea Pottery

 

 

Teapot with feet, Natalyslots

Teapot with feet by Natalyslots ( Etsy )

 

 

Zsolnay Vase

Zsolnay Vase

 

 

Koala Aussie Koala

 

 

Capricorn Porcelain Capricorn  see Anya Stasenko and Slava Leontiev

 

 

Porcelain MermaidPorcelain Mermaid

W.C.Fields Porcelain Cookie Jar

Jenny Mendes

Fruit Decorated Vase