{"product_id":"antique-porcelain-nodder-or-swinger-pin-tray-schafer-vater-girl-in-bonnet-black-cat","title":"Antique Porcelain Nodder or Swinger Pin Tray by Schafer \u0026 Vater. Girl in Bonnet with Black Cat","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is another of my very rare Schafer \u0026amp; Vater antique collectables.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is one of a series of quirky figures by S\u0026amp;V that I have for sale in my online shop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are all very rare and hard to source and are special items for the specialist collector of early 20th century Schafer and Vater porcelain models.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis little figure is a very rare and a most collectable one - reflected in my price here. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is really sweet - it is a little decorative pin tray and it forms a pair with the one featuring a little seated boy also in my store. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis one shows a little lady sitting on a park bench - and dates to the early 20th Century. She wears a little pale blue bonnet to keep the sun off her face. At the edge of the bench, there is a little black cat. She is a nodder or swinger figure - as when moved her head shoogles back and forward - and it rings like a little bell. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeight: 4 1\/2 inches. Base measures: 2 1\/2 x 2 1\/2 inches. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is in good vintage condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese antique pieces of German porcelain novelties 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 bottles 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 recognize 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":39268949622848,"sku":"BOX ONE","price":110.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/1902\/6240\/files\/antique-porcelain-nodder-or-swinger-pin-tray-by-schafer-vater-girl-in-bonnet-with-black-cat-161.webp?v=1786623485","url":"https:\/\/www.iconicedinburgh.co.uk\/products\/antique-porcelain-nodder-or-swinger-pin-tray-schafer-vater-girl-in-bonnet-black-cat","provider":"Iconic Edinburgh","version":"1.0","type":"link"}