Tuesday, April 5, 2011

How are you fairing?




 Do you collect fairings?



Inscription:  "The last in bed to put out the light."

(Source: Denhams.com)


A little vase from RubyLane.com


Mama pig rocking her baby.


These small porcelain figural "fair"ings were made 
in Victorian times
from 1840-1900  as giveaway prizes or trinkets
when the large fairs were in their heyday.




This sweet little fairing is a small box. (Source: OklahomaHistory.net)


Inscription:  "An awkward interruption" (The other woman hides....) Source: Bathantiquesonline.com


They are not very big, usually 2 -3 inches 
maximum in height and or width.


Inscription: "Now Ma-am say when"  Helping her into a stagecoach.  (Source: Denhams.com)




Some where match holders 
with a match strike area, 
some were small banks, vases, or lidded boxes.
And others were sweet little figural pieces 
without a purpose --
many with a humorous inscription.

Some were sold inexpensively as
a souvenir item, often times with
a city's name hand-painted in gold.






This one is a souvenir from Niagara Falls (painted in gold). Source: RubyLane.com




A friend of mine got me interested in collecting 
the German pink pig fairings. 
 As you may know, 
Germans believe pigs 
are a sign of good fortune or luck. 


Inscription: "Good old annual" -- the baby pig is having a bath!



On the crib..... "Hush a bye baby don't you cry, you'll be a sausage bye and bye."





They are hard to find, but easy to identify, 
because they were painted using the same green paint, 
and the same peachy pink paint for the pigs. 
Often times, there were other colors added, 
like metallic gold and maybe a deep orange-red, but for the most part, it was green and peach/pink. 


Piggies in a purse at RubyLane.com



A piggy bank purse.


(Rear view)   :)


I love the little faces on the pigs....are they sweet or what? 


(My little collection, complete with bumps, bruises and some chips!)








Do you have any fairings?











24 comments:

Sarah said...

Alison, no fairings here. The term is new to me. Thanks for all the information and the great images. Your little collection is dear. Love the muted colors. You have great style!
Tomorrow is National Tartan Day. Hope you'll stop by HFTS and have a cup of Scottish tea and a Campbells shortbread at my Tartan Day Tea. ;-)
~ Sarah

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Alison this is a new one on me girl and I collect just about everything..I go to Ruby Lane alot looking for "Globes De Mariee" have a great week..Hugs and smiles Gloria

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

I have never heard of a "fairing" before, the term is new to me! These are adorable.. especially love the piggies in the purse.

Debbie@Mountain Breaths said...
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Debbie@Mountain Breaths said...

Thanks for opening my eyes to fairings. If I ever see one while browsing through antiques, I will think of you. What a charming collection you have!

Janette - The2Seasons said...

Thanks for the education. I had never heard of these before.

Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home said...

I love to collect Occupied Japan pieces and many of them are small, however I've never heard of these. Adorable...such a sweet collection!
Blessings,
Cindy

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Hi Alison never heard of fairings before but I LOVE your collection!! Those little pigs are too cute and would look great on a shelf in my kitchen, hope they don't go missing(LOL)! Have a great day, Martina

laxsupermom said...

Beautiful collection! I especially love the coin purse bank - Just adorable! The term fairings is new to me. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Hi Alison! Oh, someone likes little piggies! What sweet little figurines you have!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Divine Theatre said...

I adore the history of these items! Can you just imagine the excited fair-goers? People who came from all walks of life, in a simpler time, who went to the fair once a year? These pieces represent memories forged of excitement and anticipation of a very special event!

waveney said...

alison I have one whimsey which I bouht from a dealer who had the pigs, It is a green shoe with a fox and a weiner dog in it. I wasn't sure it qualified but found a simular on ebay with a pig in it. sending you pics. My heart breaks for wee piglet - future sausage, can't say I find that too humorous as an animal lover and x vegitarian....but humor is cultural and I do supose pork to Germany is life itself.

Blondie's Journal said...

I've never heard of fairings before but they are darling and you have a wonderful collection! It was fun learning a bit about them!

XO,
Janie

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

No, never heard of them. Cute collection you have.

Olive said...

I knew not of them but now I do! The faces of the pigs are so innocent and sweet!

Tracy F. said...

Very interesting! I've never heard the term "fairings". I have a small pair of pink lambs, inherited from my grandmother. I wonder if they might be fairings!

Beverly said...

Alison.. I never knew they were called fairings.. intersting.. I don't have any but I would love to take those little piggys off your hands if you ever want to get rid of them.. they are precious!Thanks for sharing such a great collection

Debra said...

I am not familiar with these but they sure are cute.

Upscale Downhome said...

Thank you for sharing your collection. I had never heard of "fairings" before and I am an avid antique store junkie. I was glad to expand my knowledge. Thanks! Love the German pigs. Too cute and can't we all use all the luck we can get these days?

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

HI! I have never even heard of fairings but they sure are CUTE!!!! How many do you have? Thanks for sharing these with us! BTW, I was REALLY busy today too. Maybe I will get a rest tomorrow:):)???? XO, Pinky

lvroftiques said...

Alison I've never heard of them either....but I'll certainly keep my eyes open for them now! I have seen a few small pieces like these but didn't realize they were called "fairings" I do collect small staffordshire figures that were also giveaways at fairs and such.
That poor mama pig should be saying "Don't hush a bye baby you SHOULD cry, you'll be a sausage bye and bye."!! How absolutely dreadful! But I did LOL! Vanna

Anonymous said...

Thank you SO much for finally helping me to learn what my "little pigs" were! I've linked this article to my own blog, because I'd never even heard of fairings before. I thought my piggies were just some 1950s trinket, since I grew up with them in the living room. Who'd have ever thought they had such a fabulous history????

http://janvierroad.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/a-pig-tale/

Diana's Gift Shop said...

Hi - I found you through Sara's (above) facebook post.
Very good information !
Thank you so much.

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