6883 - Hand-painted pewter figurines depicting the Freiberg Silver Mountain Parade around 1820–30, produced by the Freiberg pewterer Gustav Adolph Väterlein (1839–1905) around 1875 using old molds by Pilz and Bruck; some are signed “VÄTERLEIN” on the rectangular base, approx. 100 figures, including 4 flag bearers (1 damaged), 2 mining captains on horseback, a group of drum bearers and a marching band; original paint with minimal flaking; average figure height approx. 7 cm; in good overall condition for its age; a rare collector’s item in this composition and variety; also suitable for use in an Erzgebirge pyramid; Carl Gottfried Daniel Bruck began producing pewter figures in 1850; he engraved the molds himself. His stepson, Gustav Adolph Väterlein—whose ancestors were miners—apprenticed with him from 1854 to 1858; After Carl Gottfried Daniel Bruck’s death, his widow, Johanne Christiane Bruck, continued to run the business; Gustav Adolph Väterlein took over the workshop on November 20, 1873—he was considered very experienced, he had previously spent several years in Berlin and Dresden and had also worked at Carl Woldemar Pilz’s firm; he also produced pewter tableware, but primarily fittings and pewter figurines after taking over the molds from Carl Friedrich Pilz and Carl Gottfried Daniel Bruck, and he even engraved his own casting molds for pewter figurines