German Christmas Smokers -Räuchermännchen History & Where to Buy One!

German Christmas Smokers or Räuchermännchen may look like a toy or a simple decoration that goes on the mantle, but they do more; they are incense burners.  Many people collect Räuchermännchen, and this Christmas decoration is pretty common in most German households (like Nutcrackers). What’s fun and collectible about these figures is the variety of Smokers. There are Santas, Brewers, Beekeepers, and Toymakers, all with a pipe in hand or their mouth. And why? Open up the figure, and you find a platform for a small cone of pungent incense. The cone gets lit, and the smoke comes out of the hole, mimicking pipe smoke and filling your home with delicious smells of pine or Frankincense.

Recently, maybe because fewer people are smoking, woodcarvers have produced other sorts of figures to “smoke” without the use of a pipe—like a Santa House and dragon!

Dregano Pyramid Christmas Crafts Smoker, Germany

 

Over the years, I’ve collected a few Smokers. My most recent addition is the vintage Santa with a DDR label. Since the Erzgebirge lie in the former DDR, it totally makes sense, because that is where the story of the German Smoker begins…

 

 

What are German Christmas Smokers?

People have treasured incense for thousands of years. This precious commodity was traded and sold for vast sums of money. As precious as gold, the Three Wise Men even presented incense to the infant Jesus as a gift.  Historically, people used incense to cleanse evil spirits and make the world a better smelling place. Originally Smokers were made from dough or Paper Mache. In the early 1800s, carvers in the Erzgebirge began carving Räuchermännchen or Smokers to burn incense during the holiday season. They symbolized the gifts brought by the Wise Men on the Epiphany,  January 6, and to clear out the spirits of the previous year.

KWO Santa Claus with gift sack, Incense SmokerKäthe Wohlfahrt Store

Christmas Smokers Germany

Some look like Santa or other Christmas characters, but many are carved to look like everyday people who you would find in a typical German village; a Baker, a Wine Maker, Brewer, or a Fisherman.  Some are just made from wood, but others have metal or fur details to make them extra special. Puffs of sweet smelling smoke will come out of the smoker’s mouth… making it look like he’s smoking (generally, they all have pipes to complete the effect).

KWO Wood Gnome German Christmas Incense Smoker Handcrafted in Germany NewRichard Glaesser Oma Opa Mini Smoker Made in GermanyKWO Baker Cakes Breads German Smoker SMK210X03Seiffener Volkskunst German incense smoker dragon, height 12 cm / 5 inch, original Erzgebirge by SV 19069

(Also, I understand that many people find smoking to be a bad habit, and don’t want to glorify it… keep in mind, these are decorations from another time and place… an incense burning Santa will probably not send your child running to get a pack of cigarettes. Fortunately… there are other types of smokers, like a the stove, a House with Smoke Coming from the Chimney, and a Dragon!.)

Unlike the fancy nutcrackers that really shouldn’t be used for cracking nuts... a smoker can be used for more than mere decoration. The smokers have a metal plate where a cone of Christmas Incense can be placed to shield the wood from heat damage. They are safe to have around the home, although you should never leave one burning unattended.

(Sadly, over the years, his pipe for my Snowan was lost, so now we just pretend he’s outside breathing cold air).

Many of the best known wood carving companies in the Erzgebirge make Smokers. Steinbach, KWO, Richard Glaesser and Christian Ulbricht. With so many styles to choose from, you can find the perfect smoker for you… and your friends.

These sweet smelling Christmas Decorations can be enjoyed for years to come!

Dregano Mountain Miners House Cabin German Smoker – Approx 5 Inches Tall

Find the Perfect German Smoker for your Home

Whether you like a Santa, a Toy Maker, a traditional Bavarian… or even a dragon… there are loads of beautiful German Smokers available.

German vintage Smoker man Erzgebirge Smoker Wood Incense Burner Raucher Smokermoking man “Santa Claus is sleeping on the sofa”5.25″ German incense smoker doll, woodcutter toy seller fisher hunter man wooden Figurine made in Germany Erzgebirge burner räuchermännchenVintage Traditional Wooden smoker German Incence Cone Smoker or Beverage Seller Rauchermann

 

German Erzgebirge Smoker Figure: “Deluxe Jack Frost, Blue” by Richard Glaesser, w/ bonus

 

German Erzgebirge Smoker: “Ski Hut” by Knox, w/ bonusGerman Erzgebirge Smoker Figure: “Postman” by Richard Glaesser, w/ bonus

 

KWO Toy Vendor German Christmas Incense Smoker Handcrafted in Erzgebirge GermanyKWO Oktoberfest Bavarian Drinking Beer German Smoker – Approx 7.25 in Tall – …KWO Red Santa German Christmas Incense Smoker Handcrafted in Erzgebirge GermanyGardner Rake German Smoker SMK210X40

Dregano Craftsman Incense Smoker Made in GermanyDregano Mini Santa Ruprecht Smoker Made in GermanyDregano Bee Keeper Incense Smoker Made in GermanyDregano Beer Delivery Man Smoker Made in GermanyDregano Blue Gnome Smoker Hand Made in Germany

German Incense Smokers from Käthe Wohlfahrt in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

You don’t need a plane ticket to order smokers from Käthe Wohlfahrt! See the whole collection here-> Käthe Wohlfahrt

Christian Ulbricht Santa Claus, Incense SmokerKäthe Wohlfahrt StoreKWO Nikolaus, RäuchermännchenKäthe Wohlfahrt StoreChristian Ulbricht Night watchman, incense smokerKäthe Wohlfahrt StoreChristian Ulbricht Waldmann, RäuchermännchenKäthe Wohlfahrt Store

 

Käthes Original Winterhaus, DuftlKäthe Wohlfahrt StoreKäthes Original Holzknoddl “Weihnachtswünsche”, RäuchermännchenKäthe Wohlfahrt StoreGingerbread Incense Smoker Train “Wonderful Advent Season”Käthe Wohlfahrt Store

Vintage German Christmas Smokers

Find authentic Vintage German Christmas smokers perfect for the collector.

Vintage German Wooden MONK Smoking Pipe Carrying Keys Incense BurnerHand Crafted Toy Maker incense smokerErzgebirge Smoker Hunter with bunnyVintage Original East German Steinbach Volkskunst Figural Incense Smoker of a Woman Holding Hearts

 

Hand Crafted Toy Maker incense smokerVintage German Smoker – Toymaker

 

German Smokers Incense

While the German Smokers Incense Burners are cute as a stand alone piece, to really make them special, you need incense.

Crottendorfer Frankincense Scented Incense Cones, Pack of 24, Made in GermanyKNOX Cinnnamon Scented Incense Cones, Pack of 24, Made in GermanyBoxes German Incense Cones – Christmas ScentKnox Nuremberg German Incense Cones Variety Pack Made Germany Christmas SmokersKnox Heidelberg German Incense Cones Made in Germany for Christmas Smokers

See a Smoker in Action Here…

Still looking for a German Christmas Smoker?

There are SOOOOOOOO many to choose from!

Santa House Cabin German Smoker – Wooden – German MadeKWO Oktoberfest Bavarian Drinking Beer German Christmas Incense Smoker GermanyKWO Beekeeper German Incense Smoker SMK215X71German Incense Smoker Winterchild Girl with stollen – 20cm / 8inch – Hubrig VolkskunstAlexander Taron Importer 1-667 Christian Ulbricht Incense Burner-Fir Cone Man (Natural) -4German Incense Smoker Dog lover – 16cm / 6 inch – KWOKWO Schwibbogen Candle Arch Erzgebirge German Smoker SMK211X68German Incense Smoker Pilot – 21,5 cm / 8 inch – Christian UlbrichtMini Dog Duck Hunter German Smoker Incense Burner – Made in Germany

 

KWO Sitting Lumberjack German Christmas Incense Smoker Handcrafted in GermanyISDD German incense smoker Santa Claus, height 23 cm/9 inch, original Erzgebirge by Mueller SeiffenDregano Log Cabin Incense Smoker Made in GermanyGerman Incense Smoker Forest Ranger – 18 cm / 7 inch – Authentic German Erzgebirge Smokers – KWO