Antique Porcelain Figurine or China Fairing, Conta and Boehme, 19th C. Elegant antique porcelain figurine which doubles as a match holder, depicting a stout girl wearing a thick coat, decorated in homely patterns of flowers and leaves. Her loyal fawn stands beside her, faithfully looking up at her owner, by the tree stump in which one can store matches and the like. China fairings are so named because they were given away as prizes at fairs in the Victorian era, in much the same way that we would win a coconut at a fair today, although some were manufactured simply for sale. They first started appearing in the middle of the nineteenth century and remained popular until the start of the First World War. The best fairings were manufactured in Germany by Conta and Boehme, such as this one. Conta and Boehme developed a precision production method that no other company could match, thereby achieving an advantage over other firms. This one is dated to c. 1890, due to the shield on the base and the bright and vivid colours. Excellent antique condition. Within the match container there are cracks on the inside, which one can’t see from outside. There is also some minor loss to paint, please carefully regard all photos. 13.5 cm in height 271 g Item will be sent fully tracked and insured. Please note cost of shipping includes labour, packaging and postage.