{"product_id":"1920s-schafer-vater-rare-whisky-flask-stoneware-finish-maid-carrying-dog-tray-scotch-whisky","title":"1920s Schafer \u0026 Vater Rare Whisky Flask or Bottle. Stoneware Finish in the Form of a Maid Carrying a Wee Dog and Tray with Scotch Whisky","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a rare antique figurine by Schafer \u0026amp; Vater which takes the form of a bottle or whisky flask. The bottle is made of porcelain with a stoneware finish and is beautifully modelled with crisp details.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bottle takes the form of a maid dressed in her uniform and wearing her stiff cotton pleated hat (which to me looks a little like the feather headdress worn by a Native American chief). It is certainly very dramatic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer face is just so fine and I love her cheeky smile. She carries a little Cairn Terrier (a popular breed in the 1920s) under one arm and in her other arm she holds a tray with a tiny bottle on it marked: SCOTCH WHISKY and two wee cups. A more unusual issue as the words are usually shown on her dress and not on the bottle she carries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome of these models were coloured with polychrome colours - but this one is a mock stoneware effect to the glaze. The stopper for the bottle is on the back of the figure on the maid's head, as photographed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is now about 100 years old and in excellent condition - no chips, cracks, damages or restorations. Dimensions: Height is 9 inches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis model does not come up for sale that often - and my asking price for it is certainly a fair one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHISTORY: The company was founded by a Gustave Schaefer and Guenther Vater in Germany in 1890. By 1896 the business was so successful that they were able to expand to the List Porcelain Factory at Neuhaus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe company aimed at producing high-quality items in hard-paste porcelain - and it made luxury items, including figurines and dolls' heads. They also produced a range of soft-paste porcelain items such as small liquor bottle which were distributed in pubs etc.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSchafer \u0026amp; Vater were better known for their comical and figural items. They manufactured these in teapots, jugs, creamers, bottles, match strikers, and planters, with a backstamp impressed with a crown above an 'R' in a star. 'Made in Germany' was sometimes stamped in black. Occasionally, Schafer \u0026amp; Vater pieces appear without any stamps or reference to their origin, but they are easy to recognise due to their characteristics and unique craftsmanship and unusual design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir wonderful novelty figures were always very popular in the States - and by 1910 the American firm of Sears Roebuck \u0026amp; Co began to import and distribute Schafer \u0026amp; Vater pottery items.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1913 Paul Schafer had taken over from his father and, working alongside Gunther Vater, built up a successful workforce of around 200 people. In 1918 the factory was destroyed by fire and they set up a new factory to resume production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSadly, the firm closed in 1962 and in1972 the East German government assumed full control of the vacant factory and their records and moulds were destroyed - so no further figures could be produced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA hallmark of this pottery is the fine texture of the clay used in production. Mined locally, it was rich with kaolin and this resulted in a product with a velvety texture and very fine grain.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Iconic Edinburgh","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31617102446656,"sku":"","price":195.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/1902\/6240\/files\/1920s-schafer-vater-rare-whisky-flask-or-bottle-stoneware-finish-in-the-form-of-a-maid-carrying-wee-dog-and-tray-with-scotch-154.webp?v=1786616407","url":"https:\/\/www.iconicedinburgh.co.uk\/products\/1920s-schafer-vater-rare-whisky-flask-stoneware-finish-maid-carrying-dog-tray-scotch-whisky","provider":"Iconic Edinburgh","version":"1.0","type":"link"}