{"product_id":"antique-porcelain-figurine-schafer-vater-dutch-couple-match-holder-striker","title":"Antique Miniature Bisque Porcelain Figurine by Schafer \u0026 Vater.  Dutch Couple in the form of a Match Holder and Striker","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is another of my very rare Schafer \u0026amp; Vater antique smoking collectables. They are all very rare and hard to source and are special items for the specialist collector of these cute little German bisque figures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis little model shows a google-eyes Dutch boy and Girl sitting on a bench. They feature in other Schafer models of a similar nature - and are based on the Tuck postcard series \"Little Hollanders\" - by the artist G. Shepherd.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese little pair are antique collectables and date to around 1905 - 1915.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe couple is sat on a bench with the match holder in a tree stump to the left-hand side of the wee Dutch boy. Underneath are the letters: WAITING FOR THE SMACKS.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe really cute bit is when you turn them to the back - you can see that each figure has a little rough area on the seat of their pants - where you would strike the match on.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are on good vintage condition - with no chips or damages. Displays very well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese antique pieces of German smoking paraphernalia are now hard to find.\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","brand":"Iconic Edinburgh","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31617044807744,"sku":"Cupboard in Living Room","price":135.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/1902\/6240\/files\/antique-miniature-bisque-porcelain-figurine-by-schafer-vater-dutch-couple-in-the-form-of-a-match-holder-and-striker-121.webp?v=1786616768","url":"https:\/\/www.iconicedinburgh.co.uk\/products\/antique-porcelain-figurine-schafer-vater-dutch-couple-match-holder-striker","provider":"Iconic Edinburgh","version":"1.0","type":"link"}