In the Depths of the Forests

Myths, legends and fairytales pass on tradition to future generations. We for our part deliver the tradition of high-quality craftsmanship. Our works of art are made from the natural material of wood.

Do you know the fairytale of the seven dwarfs who lived beyond the seven mountains? Hundreds of years ago, foresters, woodsmen and night watchmen may have wondered who was working away secretly in the depths of the wood. Today, we think we know the answer. The legendary dwarfs came from distant lands, maybe from Italy. They will have been searching for gold and precious stones in the Ore Mountains. The foreign miners worked in secrecy in the forest and were known for their relatively small stature. Sometimes these people were feared.

They were frequently referred to as ‘goblins’ (’Wichtel’ in German). The precious metals and pigments that came from the Erzgebirge mines in medieval times made many people rich and famous. Traders, smiths and the Venetian Guild of Glass Makers established a reputation for themselves. Also the symbolism of the so-called ‘wise women’, the herbalists with their magic knowledge about healing and nature, has carried over into our own times. Witches may have formed an alliance with the clever raven, a symbol for magic and knowledge … We have shaped all these figures from the noble natural material of wood; they live and work with the animals of the forest.