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The Saxon Ore Mountains

The origin of traditional German craftsmanship

Erzgebirge

The area on the Czech-German border is the original home of the Wohlfahrt family. Among other things, it is famous for its picturesque landscape, its mining tradition and its unique wood and toy manufacturing products, known as Erzgebirge folk art. These include nutcrackers, light figurines, smokers, Christmas pyramids, music boxes and candle arches, which are now part of the classic Christmas decorations throughout Germany and have long since found many admirers worldwide.


In the beginning there was silver and tin

The Ore Mountains, a low mountain range in Saxony and the north-west of the Czech Republic, were named after the silver ore deposits discovered there in the 12th century and gave the entire region its name. In addition to the large silver ore deposits, there were also large deposits of copper, bismuth, cobalt and tin ore, the mining of which attracted many miners to this region. Despite the wealth that mining brought to the sovereigns, the miners' lives were hard and full of privation. Nevertheless, they had a significant impact on the history and culture of the region.


Woodworking: New paths after mining

In the 17th century, the ore deposits were exhausted and the mining families had to find new sources of income. Wood, which played an important role in mining and was available in abundance, became the central material. The work previously carried out by

The woodworking that miners had previously carried out as a sideline after work and the domestic textile trade carried out by women became increasingly important. Many miners made woodworking their main occupation and carving, turning, chip carving or hoop turning became the new most important source of income in the region.


The toy village of Seiffen

In Seiffen, in the Saxon Ore Mountains, the wooden goods industry also developed into a decisive economic factor until the first half of the 19th century. The work of the local toymakers, whose miniaturized figures, houses and vehicles became export hits, was particularly famous here. The town attracted particular attention for the production of the so-called hoop animals, which were used for candle arches, pyramids and other and other products from the Ore Mountains. This is how Seiffen became known as a toy village. Its businesses and show workshops are still an important economic factor and today play a major role in tourism in the region.


Unique craftsmanship

Traditional wooden toys from the Ore Mountains, such as nutcrackers, cranks, miners, pyramids, music boxes etc., are experiencing a renaissance today and are very popular with all age groups. The models with little or no paint, in which the different wood tones and the natural grain of local wood such as spruce or lime are shown to their best advantage, are particularly popular at the moment. The variety of types and variants is huge, so there is something for every taste.


The roots of Käthe Wohlfahrt

These artistic products also convey a sense of home and permanence and often accompany people for a lifetime. This was also the case for Käthe and Wilhelm Wohlfahrt, who loved the Christmas season with the traditional decorations of their Erzgebirge homeland. Even after fleeing to what was then West Germany, they remained faithful to these homeland memories and decorations. In the end, it was a Christmas music box from the Ore Mountains that paved the way for their later business. Käthe Wohlfahrt's deep connection with the Ore Mountains has been preserved in many ways to this day. It can be seen in each of our branded products from the Rothenburg Christmas workshop: In our in-house design studio, craftsmen from the Ore Mountains work with the techniques they have learned there and incorporate the traditional design language.


Living craftsmanship with heart

Erzgebirge products are made in family businesses and specialized manufactories. They are still mostly made by hand, with modern machines only being used to support the production process. As there is no industrial production, Erzgebirge goods are not mass-produced, but lovingly crafted unique items and part of the living folk art of the Erzgebirge. Unfortunately, the survival of many long-established manufacturing companies is now under serious threat due to a lack of staff, a lack of company succession or competition from abroad. And with them, local jobs and the passing on of knowledge to future generations regarding old craft techniques and regional product features. Every original purchased therefore supports the Erzgebirge cultural region.


Interesting story(ies)

Christmas decorations from the Erzgebirge are not only beautiful, they are also associated with exciting stories. If you are interested, you can find out, for example, what the author of “Struwwelpeter” has to do with nutcrackers, what symbolism the candle arch had for the miners, why light figures are only rarely displayed in pairs in windows, that a great technical invention and physical laws were the inspiration for the Christmas pyramids and that smokers were only invented long after the incense candles. You can find out lots of interesting facts at the German Christmas Museum at www.weihnachtsmuseum.de.


Wooden art from the Ore Mountains, whose traditional craftsmanship guarantees high quality, has a special focus in the Käthe Wohlfahrt range. The small and large masterpieces are popular Christmas decorations with a long history that lives on in the modern pieces. Discover a traditional Christmas range in many different designs. Immerse yourself in the unique world of Erzgebirge folk art and be inspired by the variety of these handcrafted products.

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