In 1865 Christoph Hertwig and 2 partners opened a porcelain factory in the Thurigian town of Katzhutte. Their first products were porcelain "novelties" including shoulder head bisque doll heads.
I love the term "novelties." "Novelties" are small manufactured adornments, toy or collectible." In the 19th and 20th century, Hertwig manufactured a wide selection of impulse items...bisque dolls, figurines, animals, and knick-knacks. Many of these were sold in Woolworths, J.C. Murphy and local 5&10 cent stores. They also offered more expensive lines for fancy good stores.
Mixed in the Hertwig novelty line were cake topper figures. Not everyone could afford to buy a fancy cake to celebrate a special occaision. Figures commemorating a baptism or first communion could be purchased and stuck on a cake. It is believed that Hertwig introduced wedding cake topper figures between 1914-1920.
You can see below the quality of molding, painting and variety of their work below....
No comments:
Post a Comment