Composition animals by Berger Germany - Newcomer as gift from Christophe

In my collection there are two Massetiere (composition animals) from the company Berger in Steinach/Thüringen (Thuringia).
A polar bear and a tiger.

Some weeks ago,  I received another figure by Berger: An elephant, it is a gift from Christophe (Kikimalou).
Many thanks for this nice figure, dear Christophe!
All three figures were made between 1930 and around 1950.

I don't have much informations about Berger.
But I found this title of a Berger catalogue:
Spielwaren Fabrik, Christoph and Otto Berger, Steinach/Thüringen, from 1934.  



I also know of an old advertising leaflet with Berger animal figures.
The polar bear is depicted in the first row, the tiger in the third row and Christophe's elephant in the last row.



You can find short information about Berger on the homepage of the Mahr company:

https://www.marolin.de/de/manufaktur/geschichte/


Here is the short information about Berger in the text fom the Marolin homepage in the blue field on the left side:
" Unter massivem Druck des Staates wurde zu Beginn 1972 eine staatliche Beteiligung durchgesetzt, die jedoch nur wenige Wochen existierte.
Im April folgte dann die Enteignung.In dieser Zeit wurde dem nun „volkseigenen Betrieb“ die ebenfalls verstaatlichte Firma Christoph Berger angegliedert.
Bis 1975 blieb der Betrieb, der jetzt unter dem Namen VEB MAROLIN-Plastik firmierte, relativ selbständig. Im VEB PLAHO Steinach verlor er schließlich die Selbständigkeit ganz.
Bis 1974 hatte der VEB MAROLIN-Plastik noch einen eigenen Stand auf der Leipziger Messe und beteiligte sich vorerst zum letzten Mal an der Internationalen Spielwarenmesse in Nürnberg. In dieser Zeit arbeiteten etwa 110 Menschen im Betrieb, davon waren 30 Personen als Tiermaler in Heimarbeit beschäftigt."

My three Berger animals from my collection.
From the left to the right: Tiger, elephant from Christophe and the polar bear.





Elephant from Christophe, the Schleich elephant shows the size:


The Berger polar bear from 1930 together with the Elastolin one of the 50s. They are very similar.
The Berger polar bear is a little smaller and the foot/leg position is also different.

WOW !!! They are beautyful, Yvette

It makes me very happy that you also get something from STS-friends, and don't only give and give to others

What a catch. And so very very interesting :)

what wonderful figures these are!
I have never seen such a friendly and gentle looking polar bear (in my eyes
you have taken very good photos to show this
the elephant is a real beauty :)
congratulations on receiving such treasures from Christophe!

I am also glad that Christophe could find someting for your collection. Christophe collects Indian rhinos but he has a special talente to find elephants.
I really enjoyed to read the page you linked and surely the stars are your figures from this illusive German company.

Vielen dank für euer Interesse.
Sunny: Indeed, both polar bears look unusually well behaved.

Roger: Christophe really has a great talent for finding very unusual and rare figures, including figures you didn't know they existed - until Christophe presents them at some point.