Butts In The Air, We Just Do Care

In response to this post about vintage ceramic animals, Butts In The Air, Like They Just Don’t Care, Nina writes:

Hi Deanna!

I came across an old blog post of yours when I was researching a vintage dog figurine for my Etsy shop. It has it’s butt up in the air and a hole where the tail should be. Ring any bells? Anyway, I thought I’d write you, firstly to ask if you ever found out what the use was for these kitschy creatures? And secondly, to let you know, in case you’re still collecting them that I just put one up in my shop.

Great blog! I’ll be back to check in, I do love the kitsch!

Nina

Here’s the vintage little dog Nina has:

vintage dog from thebakerandthebar

To answer your question, Nina, the fact is that hubby & I still debate this. He still thinks there was some sort of a “bobble” type tail. Butt However until I see one like that I remain unconvinced…

I often look for such items. So far, I have not found any (other than more modern plastic ones — which look quite different). However, you do see quite a number of dogs with spring tails. Most people are familiar with the antique postcards featuring dogs with metal spring tails.

1912 bulldog postcard metal spring tail

There are other examples too. Like these antique cast iron dogs with spring tails. You can see that the metal spring tails are attached to a “docked” nub of a tail on the dogs, which would not work on the vintage ceramic pieces we have.

antique metal dogs with spring tails

Today, however, I ran into this rather unusual version. This urinating dog is about six inches long, is marked ‘Germany’ on the bottom, and the seller calls it “Rockingham glazed.”

vintage Rockingham glazed ceramic dachshund dog

vintage Rockingham glazed ceramic dog made in germany

Aside from the dog lifting his leg to pee, this vintage ceramic dachshund is also a decanter of some sort.

urinating lifting leg to pee vintage dog

The metal spring of a tail is attached to a ceramic piece which holds a cork. The opening for the cork stopper has raised edges, so it is quite different from the vintage ceramic dogs that Nina and I have. Although, I could see that some sort of stopper is a possibility… But then what would these little ceramic dog decanters for?

cork tail with spring

container tail cork

raised hole for cork with spring tail

I’m wondering if this was some sort of inkwell for a dog-themed novelty desk set. (See also: Scotty The Pup Desk Accessory.) Perhaps it was a flask?

If you have any info on this dog — or any of these dogs — please let us know!

Image Credits: Antique postcard with bulldog with metal spring tail via Ernies Postcards; cast iron dogs with spring tails from Shusues Collectibles; and the photos of the urinating dog decanter from Orygun Trail Antiques.

Gifts You Flush Away

We’re not sure what’s, err, behind this trend of embroidered rolls of toilet paper, butt however, these gifts are sure to create a whole lot of flushing. First, gift giver and receiver of the gift alike will flush — and then the gift itself will be flushed down the toilet. This may just be one time where something is worth exactly the paper it is printed on.

doo doo tp

tears ran down my leg

We suppose these are classier variations on the old potty humor gifts of Spencer’s and the like, where each sheet of two-ply had a gag on it or some puzzle to do. (I, for one, will say this is a gift to gag on — and if you give me one, I will have crosswords for you.) They also scream, “Hey, I’ve got an embroidery function on my sewing machine — let’s try to make some money!”

crap you get at christmas

hot pepper emboridered tp

I don’t exactly like the idea of some stranger fondling my tp before I get it; I sure hope they always wash their hands before they work on their sewing projects.

Some of these don’t even stick with the crapper motifs and present themselves with decorator designs and other sediments sentiments. Some of which have implications that do not seem to have been well thought out.

bite me toilet paper

kissing fish toilet paper

Yule You’ll note the holiday designs too.

holiday toilet paper

Nothing says, “Happy Anniversary!” like a scatological or golden showers reference.

scat golden anniversary emboridered toilet paper

Muddled Meanderings in an Outhouse

Poetry straight out of the potty, Muddled Meanderings in an Outhouse by Bob Ross features photos of old outhouses too. We’ve got a copy for sale at Exit 55 Antiques; you can call the store direct at 218) 998-3088 or contact us here if interested. Otherwise, there’s Amazon and eBay.

meanderings in an outhouse

Cigarette Butts — Get It?

The part of the cigarette that’s left when you’re done smoking is called a “butt” — and back in the day, millions were made on toilet-themed ashtrays. These are just a few we’ve had. The one sans donkey is a bit confusing… It has one small potty or chamber pot for matches, another for ashes, and the center toilet bowl is for “cigarettes”. Perhaps the “butts” thing didn’t translate well. Or maybe this is for fancy folk who have both the inclination and the time to separate their ashes from their butts.

vintage cigarette butt ashtray toilets

Both vintage tobacciana items were made in Japan (one in Occupied Japan) and are china Lusterware pieces. You can find lots of other versions of vintage toilet ashtrays on eBay, naturally.

We don’t always talk about our antique business here (we mainly do that here — sometimes here), however, I have to say that neither of these items were clean when we got them from the estate. So I had to take a tweezers and pluck out each old cigarette butt from the miniature toilets. It was very difficult to do with that toilet the donkey’s pulling because the bowl’s hole is so much smaller (however, butts can — and do — go where the bowl widens at the bottom). Not that you really care; but that’s the facts. The butt facts.

PS I wonder if women always made men put these toilet seats down too?

made in japan lusterware ashtrays

 

 

Pooh To You

I’ve shared my thoughts on the old Jell-O recipes, but there’s a recent story I haven’t shared with you…

Recently, at one of our yard sales, I sold a couple of college guys a retro Jell-O cookbook simply because of this firm beliefs that meat-gelatin salads are disgusting — not only that, I also sold him a retro Wilton cake pan in the shape of Winne The Pooh to go with it. That way, he could mix up a batch of some slimy-meat-salad, let it set in the mould, and serve “Pooh Salad.”

Hey, he bought it all; hook, line, and stinker. But as of yet, I’ve no invite to such a dining experience.

Thank heavens.

I Said “It’s A Classic” Not “It’s Classy”

Everyone loves to get a potty humor birthday card. But not everyone understands potty humor. Sometimes illustrations are not enough; you have to make the potty-puns really large.

Do you remember when you were a WEE WEE tot –
And they took you out of your WARM WARM cot –
And made you sit on a COLD COLD POT –

and made you WEE-Wee whether you could or not

Well – that’s just a “DROP in the BUCKET”
compared to my wish for you today!

Happy Birthday!

Butt wait, there’s more! On the back:

Here’s hopin’ you have fun ‘REGULARLY’ year after year!

The seller says this vintage greeting card is from the 1940’s or 50’s; made by Nova Laugh Cards.

And that’s about all I “CAN” say ‘cuz I’m “POOPED” out talking about this card.

Cod Liver Oil Vs The Laundry

Another one of those “prize winning household hints” from that 1940s Hint Hunt booklet: “Give cod liver oil while the baby is taking a bath and you will avoid staining clothes!”

No word on how to avoid staining the bathtub.

Retro Potty Humor

My parents are coming to visit for a few days, and I’m super excited to see their reaction to my retro chalk toilet seat:

Stand close, its shorter than you think.

Complete with retro 70’s flowers. And only 75 cents!

PS Hubby, of course, says it only applies to company. *wink*

Recyle Your Underpants? Your Raggedy Underpants?!

It’s not only as bad as it looks; it’s worse!

Tamburina translates the Serbian:

Translation:

1)This is underwear that you have worn for many years. They are raggedy, but it would be a shame to throw them away.

2)Old underwear can be very useful. This is how: take the scissors and remove the fabric that goes between the legs.

3) When you finish that, you will have a convenient, short shirt.

4) If you don’t believe it, look how hot the shirt looks!

Notice that there are still holes — raggedy, ratty underwear holes — in your “new” recycled shirt.

Ugh.

Now, I collect vintage lingerie, which means, technically, that I buy (and, yes, wear) used lingerie — but that is nowhere near “raggedy” underwear. The only holes are those made by the manufacturer, thankyouverymuch.

And thank gawd the article doesn’t go there, doesn’t mention stains.

Crap, I just did.

And I used the word “crap” – doh!