German Smokers and smokermen from the Erzgebirge
The wooden smokers are one of the most popular collectibles made in the German Erzgebirge. Their name ranges from German smokers, smokermen to incense smokers (Räuchermännchen). Sometimes the name incense burners is used for these handcrafted items.
A smoker man looks a little bit like a nutcracker but still is very different. The main difference is that smokers are able to actually burn incense what gives them an extra benefit compared for example to nutcrackers that are usually only for decorative purposes. In spite of this nutcrackers are sold in larger numbers than smokermen.
Smoker men are one of the oldest handcrafted products from the Erzgebirge. They exist longer than most other Erzgebirge wooden items. German smokermen are also an integral part of Erzgebirge traditions. Particularly during Christmas time incense smokers are one of the favourite decorations in German houses.
It is relatively certain that the Erzgebirge toy makers have invented the incense smokers. The first Erzgebirge smokers have been crafted around 1820. At the beginning the fragrance was the main reason to make incense smokers. Today they are primarily wonderful decorations and highly sought after collectibles. Although the incense plays a minor role there are still many different types available. Customers can choose between lavender, Christmas, fir tree, honey, frankincense, orange, lemon, violet, coco and quite a few other types.
The idea to create an incense smoker is directly connected to the appearance of tobacco in Europe. At the beginning the smokers were an image of human pipe smokers. Early smokers from 1850 are made not from wood but from dough and paper mache. For certain parts of the smoker precipitate chalk or sawdust had been used – for example for the feet. In the late 19th century wood became the most popular material. Wood turning is the main technique that is used today. Smokers consist of two hollow body parts that can be taken apart. An incense cone is placed on to the lower body part and is lit up so that it gently glows. The smoke will come out of the smoker’s mouth and create a wonderful fragrance.
Smokers, just like nutcrackers from the Erzgebirge, are available in thousands of different designs and characters. You will find peddlers, chimney sweepers, miners, bakers, fire fighter, salesmen, wood worker, wood chopper, railway men, doctors, Santa Claus and many many more different figures. Even animals and motorbikes are available. More and more the workshops are starting to craft smokers that display hobbies too. Fishermen, soccer player, golfer and snowboarder are some of the examples for rather modern incense smokermen. The size of smokers usually varies from 4 to 20 inches, but there are also smokers that are larger than 40 inches.
The most renown Erzgebirge workshops that craft wooden smokers are KWO Olbernhau, Steinbach (Marienberg), Holzkunst Christian Ulbricht (Seiffen), Seiffener Volkskunst and Richard Glaesser (Seiffen). Together those manufacturers have more 1000 different models to choose from. KWO Olbernhau is probably the most popular workshop for German incense smokers and even has collectors club. But also Steinbach and Christian Ulbricht who are usually known for their nutcrackers have designed many beautiful models.
Nutcrackers - Cuckoo clocks - Smokers - Christmas Pyramids - Nativity Sets and Scenes
