Räuchermann

The Smoker, Smokers also, Erzgebirge Raachermannel, is used for burning of incense cones and is an invention of the toy maker from the Erzgebirge.

History

The smoker was first mentioned in 1830, its preparation and its use are now an integral part of the Erzgebirge folk art and customs of the Erzgebirge Christmas. For this purpose, a lighted incense cones is placed on the lower part of the two-part wooden figure. The upper portion is hollowed out and is inserted on the first part. The incense cones burn down inside the most stilted Räuchermannes, the smoke rises up and exits the mouth hole. Before the invention of Räuchermanns presented the Erzgebirger the incense cones open out.

Smokers are at Christmas time, along with flying buttress, Miner, angels and pyramid erected.

Production

Smokers are turned from domestic hardwoods such as birch, beech, spruce, linden, alder and maple. First, a prototype is produced. The preparation is carried out by " teaching" are produced, against which it can be compared to see whether the respective workpiece corresponds in its dimensions the prototype. The individual parts of Räuchermannes can now be turned, milled and cut to size. The small parts are produced by turning machines. Thereafter, the drum coating is done. Finally, the items are glued together and painted details such as the face and embellishments by hand.

Meanwhile, numerous Smoker that can be purchased even for " small money ", no longer in the Ore Mountains, but in " low-wage countries " made ​​. The Association of Erzgebirge craftsman and toy manufacturers eV has called for this reason in 2006 together with the DREGENO Seiffen eG, the community and the Seiffen Seiffen Tourism Association eV Campaign "Original not Plagiarism " in life.

Variants

Smokers are available in different designs, which tend to have careers in the regions covering. Thus, in addition foresters, peddlers and other professional groups traditionally mainly Rastelbinder, miners, soldiers and Kloßfrauen. Besides standing figures, there are shelf sitters that are placed on a table or furniture edges, or small scenarios with multiple Smoker on a base plate, such as the three card player. Modern production methods also allow Smoker, where the smoke appears, for example, about a coffee pot or a pot with dumplings.

Smokehouse

For several years, various manufacturers offer as an alternative to the traditional so-called Smoking Houses Smoking Men at. The material used for this find wood or sheet metal use. Mostly can be lifted to introduce the Räucherkerze the roof. Creatively show predominantly wintry, Christmassy, but also fairy- driven motives. Particularly interesting are those Smoking little house in which the burning incense are " upside down " introduced. The conical burn with this method completely and not leave the usual blackish lubricating film on the internal surface.

Moss man

As a counterpart to the Erzgebirge Smoker wins in the adjacent upper Vogtland Moosmännel ground. It embodies a diminutive forest spirit, the poor families in kind from the forest helps foliage can turn to gold and according to the legend occurs especially at Christmas time. As a toy it is made with materials from the forest ( wood, roots, lichens, grasses) and developed as a light carrier for folk art.

Trivia

The Räuchermännchenmuseum Cranzahl shows the development, production history and a selection of different Räuchermännchenmodelle. The smallest and largest Smokers of the world in miniature Kleinwelka in Bautzen have an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records.