Around 1850, the enthusiasm for Nativity scenes also reached the poorer classes and called for new, faster and, above all, cheaper production methods. At first, the typical Swabian “Bachene“ – figures “baked” from clay in a mould – were highly popular. However, by the end of the century, cast or pressed figures made of wax, papier-mâché, plaster or “Masse” (a mixture of paper, glue, chalk, plaster and wood shavings) had advanced to become absolute best sellers.
During the 1960s, the same moulds were finally used for the manufacture of plastic figures. Paper cut-out cribs were printed in Augsburg from about 1700 onwards, and, at that time, this Swabian town was the market leader in Europe. The tradition was continued in the 20th century by the publishing house of Schreiber in Esslingen.