{"product_id":"antique-porcelain-smoking-head-ashtray-schafer-vater-sweet-adeline","title":"Antique Porcelain Smoking Head Ashtray by Schafer \u0026 Vater. Sweet Adeline","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is another of my very rare Schafer \u0026amp; Vater antique smoking collectables.  It is one of a series of quirky smoking heads, strange ashtrays, and novelty match holders - 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 known as a smoking head. It is an ashtray in the form of an exaggerated, elongated head of a bald gentleman. Your cigarette would rest in the head's mouth - and the smoke would come out of his ears. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe different models form a barber's shop choir. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the front of this model are the words: Sweet Adeline - and some musical annotations. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe is 13 cm (5 1\/4 inches) in height. It is in good vintage condition - with no chips or damages.\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":39267395338304,"sku":"Sold for £45","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/1902\/6240\/files\/antique-porcelain-smoking-head-ashtray-by-schafer-vater-sweet-adeline-747.webp?v=1786648328","url":"https:\/\/www.iconicedinburgh.co.uk\/products\/antique-porcelain-smoking-head-ashtray-schafer-vater-sweet-adeline","provider":"Iconic Edinburgh","version":"1.0","type":"link"}