The wave of climate protests has now touched the historical Erzgebirge: In its product range, Seiffen Folk Art has introduced a new smoking figure - the "climate glue". With his seated appearance in an orange vest and gray background, the little man is characterized by smoke coming out of his ears.
"This figure was created with a smile on his lips," explained Sven Reichl, board member of the manufacturers' cooperative, on Tuesday. "The climate protests are an omnipresent topic and we thought about how we could represent this as a smoking man."
The Seiffener are no strangers to taking up current issues. In 2021, they brought out a "Smoking Merkel" and sold several thousand of them. Since last year, the top politicians of the federal government of the traffic light can also be found in their collection of smoking figures.
"We definitely appeal to people who otherwise regard the Erzgebirge as old-fashioned and dusty," remarked Reichl. However, it is important for him to emphasize that the Seiffeners are not passing judgment. "Everyone must decide for themselves what they think of it. We do not want to convey any political messages."
Whether the "climate glue" will achieve a similar sales success as the "smoked Merkel" is up to the customer, according to Reichl. The pre-production with the first 100 pieces is already sold out - the production will be continued.
The wood art from the Erzgebirge has a long tradition and is known far beyond the country's borders. Finely crafted figures and filigree structures characterize the craftsmanship, which is maintained and developed over generations. The spectrum ranges from Christmas motifs and everyday depictions to current topics, as shown by the latest incense figurine "climate glue."
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