Christian ulbricht nutcrackers the ulbricht family history. Best place to buy authentic german nutcrackers rick steves. Seiffen nestles in the heart of the ore mountains german. Long before the first christian ulbricht nutcrackers were designed the ulbricht family lived in the german erzgebirge until the end of world war ii. A nutcracker s beauty derives from its individual design, from the materials used go together, and from the details of how it is made up.
Nutcracker dolls originate from late17th century germany, particularly the ore mountains german. Nutcrackers originated in germany and unsurprisingly, they are tied in a fairy tale. The ulbricht family roots can be traced back to the 17 th century. Shop our best selection of christmas nutcrackers to reflect your style and inspire your home this time of year. Here most of the manufacturers have joined dregeno, the association of woodcarvers, sculptors. Traditional nutcrackers can be found all over germany, but especially in the erzgebirge region. Watch through this 10 minute video and you will see. Once the holiday season rolls around, their figurines and candle holders appear on many a tabletop and mantel. Other stalls complete the typical christmas market program by selling christmas crafts and products. Seiffen is a little town in the erzgebirge germany a mountain region close to the ceska republic. Wood nutcrackers in germany have been in use since the 14th or. The prototype of about 1870 goes back to wilhelm fuechtner.
Seiffen germany is nestled in the erzegebirge mountains near the border with the czech republic. Maybe you have seen the famous nutcracker man or the christmas pyramids in gift shops. The nut cracker over all is inches tall, the base is 3 12 in diameter, the soldier is 5 wide at the shoulders and is 12 tall. Richard glasser nutcracker rg12737 loaded with detail, this genuine erzgebirge nutcracker was made in the village of seiffen at the richard glasser factory. It was in the village of lauingen on the danube river in bavaria, that he reestablished his company, and eventually handed over the management to his son christian ulbricht in 1968.
With options for manufacturing in the far east, and increased access to german nutcracker companies since the fall of the berlin wall in 1989, the future of nutcrackers looks bright. We first noticed them at the nurnberger christkindl market germany many years ago and had wanted one ever since. The nutcrackers in her collection range from a few inches tall to more than a foot. The 5 best things to do in seiffen 2020 with photos. After germany was reunited in 1990, christian ulbricht bought back his fathers original company in seiffen. German pyramids, nutcrackers, smokers and ornaments for christmas. The german town of seiffen is known for its handcrafted christmas ornaments like these nutcrackers in the workshop of seiffener. In order to provide for their families, they used their woodcarving skills to produce wooden figurines. A nutcracker and other wooden christmas toys are depicted in the facade of a house. The ore mountain region of germany is famous for its wood craftsmanship. The small village of seiffen, nestled in the erzgebirge mountains near the czech republic border, is the christmas craft capital of germany. The cities seiffen, olbernhau and marienberg are the center of the nutcracker production from the erzgebirge.
Humpty dumpty steinbach german nutcracker s857 limited edition. The history of the wooden nutcracker starts in 16th century in germany. Nutcrackers free delivery possible on eligible purchases. First look for the word nussknacker, german for nutcracker. Loaded with detail, this genuine erzgebirge nutcracker was made in the village of seiffen at the richard glasser factory. Wilhelm fuchtner produced the first erzgebirge nutcracker of spruce in 1870. Buy beautiful and authentic german christmas nutcrackers the exclusive online shop for premium handcrafts made in germany. A 14inch large nutcracker is traditionally produced in about operations and can contain up to 60 individual parts.
Dec 21, 20 in november, 1997 i travelled to seiffen, germany which is home to the centuries old, worldrenowned, artisan christmas wood working industry. No change worth mentioning has been made neither to its design nor to the way it works. It has many little stores that sell christmas items made from wood by the local people. Richard glaesser german pyramids, nutcrackers, smokers and. Seiffener volkskunst incense smokers and nutcrackers have the traditional design. Dec 11, 2017 also, a proper german nutcracker should still be able to crack nuts. Towns like seiffen and annabergbuchholz are full of authentic nutcrackers. They produce enjoyable and expressive wood turned figurines that are world famous. Kwo olbernhau or kunstgewerbe werkstatten olbernhau gmbh, is an erzgebirge located company that produces high quality and beautiful german incense smokers as well as christmas pyramids, traditional nutcrackers and music boxes.
Browse all 34,408 bavaria topics christmas factories in germany watch this topic. For over 200 years we have maintained longstanding tradition, passion for detail, creativity and finest materials in our worldfamous nutcrackers. Seiffen is located in the south of dresden, in the ore mountain area, in the german erzgebirge mountains, near the border of the czech republic. Dressed in red and gold this miniature austrian guard german nutcracker stands about 5 12 inches tall and was made in the place where the original wooden nutcrackers were first made over 100 years ago in seiffen germany. Located very close to the christmas city of seiffen, next to the czech republic, kwo maintains a customer base that is worldwide. Our typical german nutcrackers are handmade from wood and certificated. The candle arch has been part of the erzgebirge christmas as a festival of lights for more than 250 years. The christmas industry in the ore mountains of germany has survived. We prefer to buy such crafts at the source, and here we were in seiffen. Major names in nutcrackers today include steinbach, ulbricht, adler, ergzebirge, nutcracker ballet gifts, and many more in this wonderful holiday tradition. The christmas market in seiffen consists of numerous stalls offering baked goods and hot food to the visitors.
Seiffener volkskunst incense smokers and nutcrackers have the traditional design that has made the erzgebirge region famous. You are buying a pre owned wooden nutcracker from seiffen germany. Capitalism puts heart and soul of germanys toytown at risk. With an abundant wood supply, seiffen soon became noted for its toys and christmas crafts. Seiffen germanys christmas craft capital international. German nutcrackers by fuchtner company in seiffen germany. Our new pyramid arch seiffen village depicts features of our village, such as the church and the carolers. Every family should have at least one handcrafted traditional german nutcracker. The seiffen toy museum and the famous seiffen church are in the immediate vicinity of our company. The toymakers of seiffen, in postcommunist east germany, are struggling to make ends meet. Dreaming of an artisanal christmas the new york times. The town of seiffen is located in the district of erzgebirgskreis, which is in the central south of the free state of saxony in germany.
Seiffen, located in eastern germany close to the czech border in the ore mountains erzgebirge, has an artisinal wooden toy manufacturing tradition dating back to the 18th century. Seiffen, germany home of the nutcracker 1997 youtube. This morning we travel through the snowcovered erzgebirge mountains, the wooden toymaking center of germany. Wilhelm fuchtner, a local craftsman, began to carve the grimfaced soldiers in 1870, and others. Buy german christmas nutcracker santa claus 30, 0 cm 12 inches authentic german erzgebirge nutcrackers christian ulbricht. Dec 07, 2019 the first mass production of nutcrackers in factories was started in the 1870s by friedrich wilhelm fuchtner, now known as the father of the nutcracker in germany. German nutcrackers really crack nuts 100% handmade.
The nutcracker has the reputation to inspire people to shop on christmas time. In the early 1990s, when east and west reunified and germany once again became one nation, christian was thrilled to be able to bring back to the family the factory in seiffen begun by his father so many. Dregano mini austrian guard nutcracker made in germany. His home workshop in seiffen, the small toymaking village in the middle of the erzgebirge in eastern germany, is still the home of the finest nutcrackers. These classic nutcrackers from the ulbricht factories located in seiffen and lauingen, germany represent the more traditional wooden nutcracker as it first appeared in the erzgebirge region. Classic ulbricht nutcrackers traditional german nutcracker. After world war ii and the dispossession of the communist government resulted in the end of the company in seiffen, now in the communist east, otto ulbricht and his family were forced to flee to west germany. Nutcracker figurines including glaesser seiffen ebth. These traditional german nutcrackers were made in seiffen germany, in the erzgebirge mountains where the wooden nutcracker was first made back in 1872. Christmas nutcrackers made in germany wooden nutcracker.
We offer you a wide selection of wooden arches, nutcracker, smokers, pyramids, easter decoration, antique decoration in our shop allover the year. The area, part of the former east germany, has a history as a woodcrafts center dating back to the late 1800s. Smokers, nutcrackers, pyramids, christmas arcs, flower children, angels and many more for christmas decoration. In 1958 in seiffen, germany, seiffener volkskunst was founded by several local craftsmen. For the finished product, come to where we have a wide variety of handmade nutcrackers imported from germany. Seiffen, germany as another christmas season creeps onto the cobblestoned streets of this hamlet known as toytown, the winter sun sets early and holiday lights burn late. We were in germany over christmas a couple of years and hit one of the kathe wohlfarts stores pretty hard.
Since 1899, the mueller company in seiffen, germany has been producing handcrafted wooden collectibles, whose whimsical designs are recognized the world over. Today, seiffen nutcrackers are famous all over the world. One origin story attributes the creation of the first nutcracker doll to a craftsman from seiffen. Each turned wood figure was typically fashioned into a figure of authority. Klaus kaden, manager seiffen nutcracker house in the seiffen toy factories workers use traditional tools and skills to create. All seiffen haus products are handmade by small family artisans. Original nutcrackers from the erzgebirge in germany are a traditional german christmas decoration. Stop in olbernhau to shop at the kwo factory store. Many wooden candle pyramids, angels, nutcrackers, candlesticks, and toys related to christmas are produced in seiffen. As the demand grew, nutcracker doll production also began on a mass scale in factories. His ancestors were carpenters and in the wintertime they were out of work. Build your familys traditions with that perfect one today. Steinbach handmade german bird hunter nutcracker with box.
Most of the german nutcrackers are militarytype figures or something similar, she says. If they were made in germany, they came from the seiffen area. Seiffener volkskunst seiffen erzgebirge volkskunst. This is a corner of the old east germany, so you will find fewer people who speak english, but that is changing. Seiffens christmas village is the official christmas village in germany. German nutcrackers from the erzgebirge region of germany are sought by collectors all over the world. The following presentation will introduce you to our world and hopefully give you interesting information about the erzgebirge and the richard glaesser company in seiffen. I have not yet been to seiffen myself it is on my schedule for mid december.
Located very close to the christmas city of seiffen, next to the czech republic, kwo maintains a customer base that is. I got interested on my first trip to germany in the early 1970s she says. Nutcrackers showed up in germany s erzgebirge region in 1725. Other estimations like te town seiffen claim the nutcracker s official birth year as 1879. Long before the first christian ulbricht nutcrackers were designed. Please look at all pictures for condition 153749276384. Jul 21, 2015 the toymakers of seiffen, in postcommunist east germany, are struggling to make ends meet. Made in germany by seiffener nussknackerhaus christian ulbricht gmbh 15 inches 38,0 cm. Nutcracker erzgebirgische volkskunst seiffen handarbeit rg made in germany. Our steinbach and christian ulbricht nutcrackers are timeless treasures perfect for a gift or to add to your home or collection. Discover our wonderful world of traditional wooden art from the erzgebirge and our inhouse production.
Seiffen incense german knox smokers cones christmas made pack variety germany germany variety pack seiffen cones christmas incense made knox german smokers saico seiffen erzgebirge smoker nutcracker new no box approx. The erzgebirgepalace offer over 600 different nutcrackers by renown manufacturers from the erzgebirge including christian ulbricht nutcracker, steinbach. Our small factory produces primarily handcrafted christmas pyramids, nutcrackers, smoking figures, music boxes, arches and ornaments. Capitalism puts heart and soul of germanys toytown at. The town portrays itself like a christmas scene right out of a story book. We invite you from the bottom of our hearts to visit our country germany.
Richard glasser nutcrackers made in seiffen, germany. Many limited edition nutcrackers are available please see the product description for details. Kwo has grown into one of the leading manufactures of traditional handmade wooden art, such as the smoking man and nutcrackers, crafted from cleargrained hardwoods and handpainted. The proud artisans of seiffen gave the world the nutcracker and are determined. Erzgebirge, which are famous for many christmas traditions. The christmas ornament shop in seiffen, germany, is a pleasant place to. Each purchase supports small business and individual families. She found it in the christmas ornament town of seiffen, tucked in germany s ore mountains. Featured is an irish nutcracker with a green bowler cap and brown suit is holding a beer stein marked rg is hand crafted by glaesser seiffen, made in germany and marked on the underside erzgebirgische volkskunt seiffen handarbeit rg made in germany. By teh way, seiffen in germany was home to many of the worlds most famous. Under threat germanmade nutcrackers at a factory in the eastern village of seiffen, where many of the crafts are made. Originally, the nutcracker was purely used to crack nuts. You also see the signpost that is in the center of the village. The ulbricht family lived in the german erzgebirge until the end of world war ii.
They were often given as gifts, and at some point they became associated with christmas season. Erzgebirgische volkskunst is a wellknown form of highly. Nutcrackers traditional german christmas decoration. Particularly seiffen is internationally famous for wooden erzgebirge handcrafts. Seiffen germany a little christmas decoration town. For the last 50 years seiffener volkskunst has been producing high quality german erzgebirge collectibles. Many stores in germany put nutcrackers into their store not for sale and display windows to increase christmas sales. Seiffen, germany giant nutcrackers stand sentinel in shop doorways. Christmas factories in germany bavaria forum tripadvisor.
Germany christmas markets christkindles dresden seiffen. The earliest record of the town dates to 24 when it was referred to as cynsifen. Hot wine and brandy punch are served against the cold. The area has a history of wood working from the 1800s when mining became less profitable. All of our nutcrackers are handcrafted and hand painted by small companies traditionally located in seiffen, germany. The german erzgebirge ore mountains is a mountain range in eastern germany. Classic soldier natural ulbricht nutcracker ul32356 soldiers, guards and figures of nobility were the first wooden nutcrackers created in the erzgebirge, and this tall soldier nutcracker is finished to perfection as only the craftsmen at the christian ulbricht workshop in seiffen can produce.
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