ON SALE NOW FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
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Celebrate365 supports traditional artisan and hand made craftsmanship. |
| Whether you’re a serious collector or an admirer from afar, antique papier-måché candy containers from Germany are still highly coveted, and even reproduced today. One of the last remaining native producers is Thomas Schaller, great grandson of noted craftsman Carl Schaller. |  |
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| Following in his great grandfather’s footsteps, Thomas uses the original molds Carl Schaller crafted in the 1890s. At the dawn of the 20th century, Carl had a successful business creating much-loved holiday decorations. In keeping with the magic of the holidays, almost all of Schaller’s antique figures served double duty: they were candy containers that had secret compartments that opened from the bottom or middle. | |
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Carl’s son, Ino continued his father’s work after World Wars I and II. Consumer trends forced Ino to shift production to pressed cardboard figures and, in 1961, to plastic. Both Ino and his son Dieter produced plastic plush-covered figures through the 1970s and 80s. |
| When selecting any Schaller design, collectors can be assured of time-honored family craftsmanship and pride in holiday collectibles for generations to come. |  |
| Excerpted from McCann, Susan. “Papier-måché – the Schaller Way”, Celebrate365, Holiday 2005 issue. | |
