Sheep
Material: Tragant
Size: 3,5 x 4,5 cm (1,4 by 1,8 in)
Age: 19th century, ca. 1850
Origin: Germany or Austria
Condition:
Age crack. Back with small glued paper.
Christmas tragant ornaments
Tragant received its name by a plant called „Astragalus“, which produces liquid that hardens through contact with air. The substance that resulted from that was crushed and mixed with powdery sugar, starch flour, egg white and lemon juice. Through long kneading you could make particulate and very solid dough with excellent sculpturation potential. The mass was formed into models and to avoid tension cracks, the model was deepened in the back with a spoon. At mild heat the tragacanth pieces would get almost bone-like hardness. The figures were hand painted with vegetable dyes.
