Räuchermännchenmuseum Cranzahl, Incense smoker figures museum in Sehmatal, Germany
The Räuchermännchenmuseum occupies the rooms of a former dye works in Cranzahl and holds more than 2000 smoking figures from the 20th and 21st centuries on 200 m². The pieces come from workshops across the Erzgebirge, some on loan from private owners, and are grouped by trade: hunters and forest workers, night watchmen, railway staff, miners. The smallest figure measures about 5 cm, the largest around 80 cm.
The museum was set up in 2011 in the rooms of a former dye works in Cranzahl and officially opened in spring 2012. It is the only museum of its kind in Germany, hence the addition "Erstes". On 1 December 2012 the first Räuchermann festival was held there, with a swap of old figures for new to enlarge the collection; it has been repeated annually since.
The figures are grouped by trade: hunters and forest workers, night watchmen, railway employees and miners. Since 1 December 2012 the museum has held an annual Räuchermann festival, where visitors once exchanged an old smoker for a new one to enlarge the collection. The 2014 edition added pyramid pushing, a stollen cutting with the Cranzahl brass choir, children's crafts and demonstrations.
The museum is best visited from spring through summer when opening hours are most generous. It helps to check the specific days and hours in advance, as visiting times vary depending on the season.
The collection ranges from tiny figures to large specimens, showing the varied handcraft tradition in the region. This wide range demonstrates how diverse the wood carving of the Erzgebirge can be.
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