MAROLIN® by Richard Mahr GmbH

The Richard Mahr company was founded in the 1900 by Richard Mahr in his parents' home in the town of Steinach, Thuringia. Like many family craft businesses then and now, the house was both a residence and a workshop. His Marolin paper mache figures became known worldwide until World War II stopped the production.

The family lost control of the business to the East German government from 1949 to 1990. In the 1970s, the original family paper mache recipe was lost. By chance, workers found the formula written on a cellar door in 1990.

Today, Richard Mahr's granddaughter, Evelyn Forkel, and her son Christopher operate the family company, molding classic Germany paper mache figures, many of them in her grandfather's molds from more than 100 years ago.

Figurines are poured into a foam to create a hollow body.

Since the molds are made of plaster of Paris, they absorb the moisture of the liquid and a thin layer sticks to the mold's walls.

The figurines are hand-painted, demonstrating the decorator's masterly skill and love for details. Each piece takes about one week to create.