Tragacanth is obtained from various species of the Astragalus bush growing in the Mediterranean region. The gummy sap was dried, then dissolved in water. For the production of figurines, the tragacanth mucilage was mixed with large quantities of crushed sugar. This resulted in a smooth, light and fine mass, which was molded with models. Before gluing the front and back of the figures together, a folded paper slip, the so-called motto, was placed between the two halves. On these were printed sayings with moralizing, romantic or prophesying content. In order to get to these paper slips, the figures had to be broken. So it is not surprising that only a few of these figurines have survived, which must have existed in very large numbers in the 18th and 19th centuries. Because of their small size, some figurines have also served as toys or survived inside dollhouses.