usage of static member as a class typein C++

Question

Based on "c++ primer", the type of a static data member can be the class type of which it is a member:

class Bar {
 public:
     // ...
 private:
     static Bar mem1; // ok
 };

However, I have a hard time imagining a scenario in which such a feature is useful. I mean, why do you need a variable to be the class type? Can someone give me some examples? Thank you.

Answer 1

The only time that this would really be useful would be in implementing the "Singleton" pattern (or "Simpleton" to those of us who despise it).