Swedish Dala Horse Set (Three Hand-Carved Wooden Figures)

Story

During long, dark 17th-century winter nights in Dalarna, Sweden, foresters carved these small wooden horses by the fire for their children. By the 1939 New York World's Fair, a giant Dala horse at the Swedish pavilion captured the world's imagination, turning a humble cottage craft into an international symbol of luck and welcome.

Maker / Origin

While many workshops have produced these over the decades, the Grannas Olsson and Nils Olsson workshops in Nusnäs, Sweden, are the most famous, continuing the hand-carving and hand-painting tradition since the 1920s. Each painter brings their own subtle style to the 'kurbits' (decorative gourd-like floral patterns), meaning no two horses are ever completely identical.

Condition & Value

The horses appear to be in good vintage condition with minor surface wear and light paint loss consistent with age and display. The natural wood horse shows a lovely, warm patina. Excellent preservation of the painted details keeps the value toward the middle-to-high end of the range.