Do you collect fairings?
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| Inscription: "The last in bed to put out the light." |
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| (Source: Denhams.com) |
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| A little vase from RubyLane.com |
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| Mama pig rocking her baby. |
These small porcelain figural "fair"ings were made
in Victorian times
in Victorian times
from 1840-1900 as giveaway prizes or trinkets
when the large fairs were in their heyday.
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| This sweet little fairing is a small box. (Source: OklahomaHistory.net) |
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| 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.
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| 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 --
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.
Some were sold inexpensively as
a souvenir item, often times with
a city's name hand-painted in gold.
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| 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,
As you may know,
Germans believe pigs
are a sign of good fortune or luck.
are a sign of good fortune or luck.
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| Inscription: "Good old annual" -- the baby pig is having a bath! |
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| 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.
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| Piggies in a purse at RubyLane.com |
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| A piggy bank purse. |
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| (Rear view) :) |
I love the little faces on the pigs....are they sweet or what?
Do you have any fairings?
24 comments:
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
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
I have never heard of a "fairing" before, the term is new to me! These are adorable.. especially love the piggies in the purse.
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!
Thanks for the education. I had never heard of these before.
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
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
Beautiful collection! I especially love the coin purse bank - Just adorable! The term fairings is new to me. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Alison! Oh, someone likes little piggies! What sweet little figurines you have!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
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!
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.
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
No, never heard of them. Cute collection you have.
I knew not of them but now I do! The faces of the pigs are so innocent and sweet!
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!
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
I am not familiar with these but they sure are cute.
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?
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
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
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/
Hi - I found you through Sara's (above) facebook post.
Very good information !
Thank you so much.
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