Traditional Swedish Handmade Dala Horse Red
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The Dala horse is steeped in tradition & history. Made in Darlana, near Mora, where the original Dala Horse was created. Horses have always been of great importance to people for millennia & are highly valued for their transportation, symbol of strength, courage, faithfulness, wisdom & dignity. The horse is also a symbol of mystique & magic, a sacred animal as reflected in nordic mythology were the horse has belonged to the gods.
For centuries the horse has been captured in drawings, carvings, cave paintings & more. Wooden horses have been made & loved for years, as toys, symbols & talismans. In the long winter months, forestry workers in the 1700's would sit by the fire & carve these toys for their children... & so the modern, wooden horse was born. They were mainly in natural wood grain & unpainted, but loved by children & adults alike. In the1800's it became common to paint the horses with bright, floral patterns. Those that travelled selling goods at markets started bringing painted Dala Horses mainly used as payment in exchange for food & shelter. The horses were sold by some villages around Mora as early as the 1800's, spreading from Bergkaria's, Risa & Nusnas. Today they are mainly made in Nusnas. The Olsson famliy lived in Nusnas, they were a poor family & the two brothers Nils & Janns as children carved horses after school to sell. In 1928 aged 13 & 15 they started a small factory & took up the old craft seriously. With a loan of 400 kronor for a bandsaw & mixing colours with brushes made from squirrels tail hair the company was born. These traditional Dala Horses are now sold throughout the globe. In 1939 at the World Expo in New York, the Dala Horse became world famous. They built a large Dala Horse outside the Swedish pavilion. It was a hit with the world press with articles & photos about this marvellous horse where seen. After this, demand grew, becoming the much loved symbol of Sweden & part of it's heritage & culture which continues today. Have a traditional piece of history with the much handmade Dala Horse.
Traditional Swedish Handmade Dala Horse Red
The Dala Horse (Dalahast) has become an iconic symbol of Sweden. Made in Darlana by Nils Olsson, these are genuine hand painted Dala Horses.
These traditional Dala Horses are lovingly handmade by craftsmen in Sweden using traditional techniques. Much work is involved in creating the Dala Horse, from felling the wood in the forests, usually pine, which is then dried for 3 to 4 weeks. After the initial carving (which prevents it from splitting once painted) the design is drawn onto the wood and sawn by machine. Each craftsman carver has his own size of horse he likes to work with. Each horse is hand-dipped and beautifully finished in the traditional artwork by hand. Finally the horse is signed by the craftsman to show its authenticity.
No two Dala Horses are the same, making each horse truly unique. Why not buy a set of 3 in graduating sizes to have your own herd?
- 3 sizes available
- Nils Olsson
- hand carved & hand painted
- Each Dala horse is unique
- Crafted in Darlana Sweden
- Symbol of strength & courage
- Beautiful gift idea
Colour: Red with floral pattern.
Material: Hand carved, hand decorated wood, individually signed.
Dimensions: 7 cm. 10 cm. 13 cm. Measurements from the top of the ear to the hoof.
Handmade solid wooden horse with hand painted floral detailing. Each individually signed by the carver.
Each horse is completely unique due to being handmade and hand painted. The image is a good representation of the colours and pattern of these beautiful crafted Dala Horses.