![]() The most famous Erzgebirge wooden figureof them all - The Nutcracker. In modern times, these have been developed into non-traditional figurines, such as houses or dinosaurs. Some Smoking Man figures are modeled on Father Christmas, miners, craftsmen, foresters, or the local townsfolk of the Erzgebirge region. The Smoking Man figurine is a traditional German incense smoker designed to blow smoke out through its mouth when lit. Many German miner figurines still to this day can also be found either holding a trumpet, pickax, or a miner’s tool, as well as having a stencil of the hammer and pickaxe on their helmets. In the past, the angels and miner figurines were put onto a windowsill on behalf of the children of the family, as the angels represent the protective celestial power, while the miner figures were actual images of the sons who risked their lives in the mines day by day. The miner figurine is a traditional Christmas decoration and was handcrafted to bear two candles while sitting alongside an angelic figurine. ![]() Which Are the Most Well-Known Erzgebirge Wooden Figures?įor many families of Erzgebirge, mining was the most distinguished occupation throughout the 19th century. Today, many Erzgebirge wooden figures are also inspired by animals and nature and are often assembled to illustrate the history of the Ore Mountains villages and experiences in the mines. Another advantage to this new skill was that it could be perfected by people of all ages, with Erzgebirge wooden figures made by families who passed their wood crafting methods and traditions from generation to generation.įor the families in the village workshops, the handcrafted toy figurines represented the traditional occupations of their neighbors, such as the farmers, hunters, and the most honored of them all - the miners. Fortunately, the villagers found a new solution to poverty and unemployment - plenty of lumber trees across the landscape meant that the villagers could practice wood crafting as a new source of income. But, during the 1700s, this industry began to dry up, meaning that jobs for the local community became scarce. ![]() This beautiful region is already well-known for its history of mining for silver and other precious metals. In the Czech Republic, it is known as Krušné hory. There is no place more famous for its wooden toy making than Erzgebirge, Germany’s Ore Mountain Region of Saxony, which sits between the border of Germany and the Czech Republic. ![]()
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