This colorful miner smoker comes from Müller, made by hand using traditional methods from local woods and hand-stained and painted in strong colors.
The miner smoker is a traditional and detailed figure that represents the mining culture of the Ore Mountains. He stands firmly on a natural-colored base, which gives him stability. On his feet he wears black boots that go well with his natural-colored trousers. His black uniform is simple, but has light buttons that create a nice contrast and give the figure additional details.
The miner’s lamp that the miner carries in front of his stomach is particularly striking. It symbolizes the light and hope that accompanied the miners in the dark tunnels. In one hand the smoker holds a pipe, which is traditionally part of his function as a smoker. In the other hand he carries a hoe, the classic tool of the miners, which illustrates his connection to the hard work in the Ore Mountains.
His white felt collar gives him a festive and clean look, while the green hat with the miners’ symbol underlines his affiliation with the mining tradition. The symbol, two crossed tools, is a sign of the miners and their work. His face appears friendly and approachable, with alert eyes, a round nose and a light moustache that gives him character. Soft, artfully crafted hair, made of rabbit fur, peeks out from under the hat, which harmoniously rounds off the overall image of the figure.
This miner smoker combines craftsmanship precision with symbolic depth. He not only stands for the Erzgebirge folk art, but also for the pride and history of the miners who once formed the backbone of this region.
- Height approx. 18cm
- colored
- for standard incense candles
- hair made from rabbit fur
You can find more pretty smoker figures from Müller and other manufacturers from the Erzgebirge here.
Tradition of the smoker:
The tradition of the smoker comes from the Ore Mountains, a region known for its rich wood resources and artistic craftsmanship. These figurative smokers, which are typically made of wood, originated in the 19th century and have been an integral part of Christmas culture in Germany ever since.
The origin of the smokers goes back to the miners of the Ore Mountains, who were looking for new sources of income in winter due to the long periods of darkness and the lack of work in mining. So they began to make smokers, in addition to nutcrackers and Christmas pyramids. These figures have a hollow construction in which a small incense candle insert is placed. When the incense candle is lit, the smoke rises through the man’s open mouth or pipe, which makes the smoker appear “alive”.
In their design, smokers often represent traditional professions or symbolic figures, such as the miner, the forester, the hunter or Santa Claus. The miner is a particularly popular figure because he reflects the history and roots of the region. The figures are often richly decorated and carry typical attributes of their profession, such as tools, lanterns or pipes.
The tradition of the smoker has developed greatly over the years. While they were originally simple representations of craftsmen and everyday people, there is now a wide variety of figures. From traditional representations to modern interpretations, they are popular collector’s items and gifts.
Smokers are part of many German households at Christmas time and contribute to the contemplative atmosphere by not only being artfully crafted, but also by spreading the typical scent of incense that is reminiscent of cozy winter evenings.
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