As children, Madlen Kazmierczak and Sven Reichelt were captivated by incense burners. Both hail from Dresden and the Erzgebirge region, growing up surrounded by the distinctive scent of pine and sandalwood from incense candles. Their passion for these figures never faded—even after relocating to Cologne. However, the traditional figurines simply didn't align with their urban aesthetic. The solution: in 2021, Kazmierczak and Reichelt founded the Erz&Mountain label in Cologne's trendy Agnesviertel. Since then, working alongside designer Sabine Kirchner and traditional workshops in the Erzgebirge, they create modern and timeless incense burners. They combine traditional lathes with cutting-edge CNC technology to produce unique pieces. Each figure is hand-sanded, polished, and finished with ecological hard-wax oil. Sustainability is central to Erz&Mountain's philosophy: only regionally sourced, FSC-certified woods are used, and every step—from production to shipping—minimizes environmental impact. Among their most popular pieces is the Räuchenberg (incense mountain). This design unites tradition and warmth in purist form: crafted from ash wood and turned and milled as a single piece, it features a brass plaque inside for holding the incense candle. With their Räucherkönige (incense kings), Erz&Mountain reimagines the classic Christmas decoration entirely: the Three Wise Men not only diffuse frankincense—their restrained forms and natural wood grain seamlessly integrate into any modern interior.

www.erzandmountain.de

Photography Credits:

Maggy Melzer
www.maggymelzer.com
Jan Krämer

(Published in CUBE Magazine Cologne 04|22)