German traditional Gifts - handmade wooden art from the Erzgebirge in Germany

German Incense Smokers - german smokers at the Erzgebirge-Palace

The first smoker was developed around 1850 in Heidelberg close to Seiffen by toy makers, inspired by the fact that smoking had become very popular around this time. Many of them still carry a pipe in their hands. Incense smokers have become a very important part of the regional tradition and are mainly used around Christmas time. At first dough served as material. Nowadays, woodturning is the main technique that is used to produce a smoker. The hollow body is made of two pieces. An incense cone is put into the lower part of the split body. The smoke comes out of the mouth of the smoker and provides a drifting aroma throughout the room. Today, there is a wide range of different fragrances, from the classical christmas fragances such as fir tree or gingerbread up to lavender or lemon.

Mostly figures of the everyday life were used as motif. Many smokers show handcraft professions such as bakers, foresters, miners or chimney sweepers, but there are also lawyers, priests, doctors, pilots and painters. Nowadays, more modern motives have also become very popular. Many of them show hobbies such as golf or football players, snowboarders and bikers, but there are also animals or snowmen. You can even find a computer expert and there are many more topics to come into the world of German Incense Smokers!

Click here to view our complete range of Incense Smokers

The size varies between 15-40 cm, but there are also bigger items up to about 1 m and there are different types of design. Every manufacturer has developed his own “style” and some of them have even produced series for collectors and enthusiasts, which are amplified with new models each year, as for example the “edge stools smokers” by KWO, the “gnomes” made by Ulbricht, or the “tall smokers” by Seiffener Volkskunst. A smoker made by one of the famous manufacturers in the Erzgebirge guarantees the highest quality of material and they are all at the top of original German workmanship.

We have arranged an enormous choice of about 900 different smokers. They are beautiful presents for Christmas, but also for any other time of the year. Please take some time to look and pick the most beautiful ones.