These are a very rare pair of Art Deco bulldog cubist candlesticks by Schafer & Vater. They are made of fine porcelain and date to the 1920s and have the appropriate "Crown and Star" stamped marks on the base, as photographed. They are reminiscent of the more colourful novelty cat and dog figurines designed by Louis Wain.
These do not come on the market that often, and are much sought after by collectors.
They are in excellent condition with no chips or cracks, as photographed.
Each candle holder is 5 1/2 inches in height.
UK Postage will be Royal Mail Recorded and this will be charged at £4.95 and applied to your order and the checkout.
HISTORY: The company was founded by 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.
The 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.
Schafer & Vater were better known for their comical and figural items. They manufactured these in teapots, jugs, creamers, bottles, match strikers, and planters, with a back stamp impressed with a crown above an 'R' in a star. 'Made in Germany' was sometimes stamped in black. Occasionally, Schafer & 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.
Their wonderful novelty figures were always very popular in the States - and by 1910 the American firm of Sears Roebuck & Co began to import and distribute Schafer & Vater pottery items.
In 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.
Sadly, the firm closed in 1962, and in 1972 the East German government assumed full control of the vacant factory, and their records and the original moulds were destroyed - so no further figures could be produced.