Jk

“Fly agaric orchestra” - traditional woodcraft from the Erzgebirge (”Ore Mountains”) region of Germany.

This region, a traditional mining region since the Bronze Age, is also famous for its woodwork. Nutcrackers, candle arches and little figures for incense cones are still made by hand here. Candle arches (”Schwibbogen”) from this region are a popular Christmas decoration in German windos, however their original purpose was to light the way home for the miners who returned home on dark winter days.

Once the mining began to decline, more focus was put on the woodcraft. Next to the Schwibbogen and Nussknacker, workshops started to produce small collectable figures that could easily be taken home as a souvenir. Typically these figurines come in “families”, like Sun, Moon and Stars or flower families. This little fly agaric orchestra illustrates the significance of the mushroom in folklore and as a Christmas decoration.