Dromedary small

The legend made them kings, so of course they did not come to Bethlehem on foot. In fine art, the Magi are often depicted riding horses: Caspar on an elephant, Melchior high on horseback and Balthazar on a dromedary. This dromedary, turned by hand from lime wood, thus atmospherically complements the figure arrangement of the Small Nativity Set. But also as a hand-flattering single figure it spreads its charm with its clear design, the artfully incorporated into the shaping grain and the balanced, warm color glazing in any further environment.

In Eppendorf near Seiffen lives and works master turner Björn Köhler. He has made it his mission to combine craftsmanship with contemporary design. His choice of motifs is based on Erzgebirge traditions, but his figures are extremely puristic and at the same time extraordinarily expressive design.

As an artisan of the Erzgebirge, Köhler treats the material wood in his manufactory as it deserves: with respect and a sense of form. Already the selection of the woods testifies to expertise and care, for example, the natural growth and the slow drying of the wood play a decisive role. The production is mainly done by hand, the gauges (holding devices for forms that cannot be held by hand on the lathe) are made individually for each form in order to be able to work true to the pattern and cleanly. The surface treatment is carefully adjusted to the strength and density of the respective wood. It is repeatedly sanded and "polished" by hand in order to adequately bring out the natural grain and achieve a velvety feel that is pleasant to the touch. In every detail, Köhler and his team pay attention to precision, even the fit of grain and dimension is precisely aligned.

The fact that a famous wood art developed in the originally densely forested Erzgebirge is not only explained by the availability of the material. As a branch of industry, handicrafts became all the more important as the local mining industry rapidly lost resources and profitability. Folk art slipped into this gap, which mining - no less than Christmas - still shaped with numerous motifs. A center of wood art emerged around Seiffen, where one of the first specialized trade schools was founded in 1853 to promote handicrafts. In the so-called Toy Corner, small and large craft businesses still produce the classics of the folk art of the Erzgebirge: from hoop animals and smoking men to miner figures and nutcrackers to candle arches and wing pyramids.

This product is an example of genuine handicraft; therefore, minor deviations in size and colour may occur.