Antique Schafer & Vater match holder depicting a German sailor
c. 1915World War One era, hollow, bisque pottery caricature of the head and shoulders of a German sailor. He is wearing a blue and white sailor's suit and cap.
His mouth is open wide, showing red lips and white teeth and he has a shocked expression - raised eyebrows and large blue eyes turned to the side. His hair is light brown, as is his facial hair - two tufts on either side of his face and one on his chin. He has protruding ears.
There are holes in the top of the cap for placing matches. A model number is impressed into the clay at the base of the back. The word 'Germany' is printed on the base and there are some handwritten numbers, perhaps in pencil.
There are a few hairline cracks and general wear.
Schafer & Vater were makers of small ceramic items, and are best known for their amusing figurals. The factory was located in Volkstedt-Rudolstadt, Germany, from 1890 to 1962.
This figure was purchased as a German WWI submariner. It was believed that it was a match striker, hence the shocked expression. Schafer & Vater did make match strikers, but these had a rough area upon which to strike the matches. It is thought that this was a match holder and that the open mouth was where the cigarette ash and used matches could be deposited.
Details
Details
On base of figure:
"Germany"
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