Norcrest Bubble Baby Mermaid Case Study


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	I started doing a case study on Bubble babies because there are so many different ones that show up. Although it is true Norcrest is the only manufacturer that made these in ceramic, they were made by Norcrest in the US and in Japan. The sizes are the same but there are FOUR different markings on the Norcrest Ceramic babies. There is a P-318, P-319, K-2208, and sets with no markings. The colors of the tailfins seem to vary on the green and magenta from batch to batch with all the markings, but the purple tailfin appears to always be about the same shade. The sizes are the same but you will see their eyes looking different ways sometimes on the same style (ie the green one in the picture). The hair color is the same color but the ones with a K seem to have more tiny strokes of a darker shade thrown in for a more realistic look. The set I got with the 318 marking had multicolored glitter all over the tailfins and hair. At that time I thought Arleen Smith's book was 100% correct so I just assumed someone applied the glitter after they bought them since they didn't show as having glitter in her book. Now I wish I hadn't of removed that glitter! The picture shows the top set with the P-318 markings and the bottom set with the P-319.

		NORCREST MARKINGS - Notice the one with the K-2206 has a PENNIES sticker on it!


		This picture compares the Norcrest bubble baby to ones made from ceramic molds, ones made in chalkware by a Japanese manufacturer, and ones made in two different plastic molds (a vintage one and a new one). . The ceramic comparison is on the top beside the original Norcrest baby. Then there are two examples of each piece made from chalkware in the bottom pictures. All the ones I have seen made out of ceramic are much smaller than the original, but they do have good detailing. The two colored pieces shown in the bottom examples of chalkware were made by an unknown mfg in Japan and have the "carnival" type look to them with the paint being sprayed on. The chalkware pieces directly under the original Norcrest baby were poured from new plastic molds. They are much thinner than the vintage carnival ones. The other chalkware baby kissing a baby is made from a vintage plastic mold.

	This picture shows three molds I have found that were used by artists to create bubble babies. First is a vintage Vitrix mold in which I poured the babies to use as my ceramic example. The second picture is of a vintage clear plastic mold I used to pour one of the chalkware examples of the magenta tailed baby. The third is the new white plastic mold that has been available for several years and can still be purchased today - I used a chalkware baby poured from that mold in all my examples. Note: My case study did not involve any molds that have been/are created by today's artists in rubber, latex or silicone.