Esco - The German Easter Bunnies / Rabbits with the Distinctive Pointed Ears
We are happy to announce that we now carry the world renown classic German Easter Bunnies / Rabbits / Hares collected by our mothers and grandmothers. Our own collection was acquired during the Soviet period, a period of time when individual workshops were not identified. Nowhere could we find a label specifically identifying the Esco workshop. Just recently we were able to put two and two together and finally add them to our offerings. Known as the Bunnies / Rabbits with the distinctive Pointed Ears, they have been hand-crafted by Esco since 1930.
Kissing Easter Bunnies
Esco began as a small workshop (growing to around 15 craftsmen in 2005) in Leubsdorf, Germany, at the foot of the Erzgebirge (Ore) Mountains. Esco is synonymous with the pointed ear bunny - creating more than 300 different figures. We are happy to offer a selection of their best -Â
          
you can find these and more here
They are especially known for introducing the original Easter Bunny School
inspired by the book "The Bunny School" by Fritz Koch-Gotha in 1924.
Amazon Germany describes Koch-Gotha's masterpiece as "probably the most famous picture book of this [the twentieth] century. Who does not know them, the story of the Hasenhans and Hasengretchen and their schoolmates?"
In 2007 Zeidler Holzkunst took over the Esco company. They added tradition to tradition, as they are one of the most traditional wood craft workshops in the Erzgebirge. A family business, since 1866, they originally created wooden toys, and now have grown to produce many Christmas items as well as the Esco Easter Rabbits.
We hope you are as pleased as we are that we found them.
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Wendt and Kühn's New Advent Calendar
This year, for the first time, Wendt and Kühn has created an on-line advent calendar. Each day one can visit their calendar to discover a favorite Wendt and Kühn figure.
Check it out, here... and move forward each new day of advent...
Such a fun way to celebrate all our favorite Wendt and Kühn figures - one of those extra special delights of Christmas.
New for 2016 - Christian Werner's Zoo Set
We have carried Christian Werner's
folk art for several years now and are delighted to offer his new Zoo Set this year -
Christian Werner of Seiffen (since 1985) is one of only eight who work in Reifendrehen, or ring-turning. Ring-turned animals have been made for generations. As the wooden ring turns,Â
the Reifendreher meticulously uses chisels to create precise grooves in the moist spruce wood. The raw shapes of each animal, the Tiger here being an example, 
are sliced off the wooden ring using a hammer and knife. The toy maker's skilled hands carve the animal's final shape, embellish it with tails and ears, and finally they are painted by the workshop's artists.Â
The set includes the zoo platform with a pond, trees, elevated tiers for delightful display, and a separate "Cave" that sits on top WITH 12 sets of zoo animals - each set includes an adult (the same size as Werner's Size Small animals) with an offspring. The young animals are unique to Werner's collections and are adorable. Â You can add to your zoo with additional adult animals found here.
The sets of animals included in the Zoo Set are: Elephant, Camel, Giraffe, Deer, Lion, Zebra, Panda, Polar Bear, Tiger, Crane, Pastas Monkey, and Rhinoceros.
Enjoy the classic folk art of ring-turning - Reifendrehen - since the 1800s
Follow our Pinterest board on Christian Werner here
Wendt and Kühn's New for 2016 Orchestra Angel with Percussion Drums
This years Orchestra Angel from Wendt and Kühn is a three piece set - the Angel with two separate percussion drums.
We have added a number of other members of Wendt and Kühn's Orchestra Angels and now offer more than 40 to choose from.  You can find your favorite instruments here.
Enjoy!
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He couldn't be more charming - Wendt and Kühn's Boy with an Easter Egg
New for 2016, Wendt and Kühn's Boy with an Easter Egg on a Pole is simply said - wonderful...
A delightful addition to your Spring Parade.
You will want to discover Wendt and Kühn's new for 2016 collection - some are here, some are coming.  All are fabulous!
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The Ultimate Storage for Your Wendt & Kühn Christmas Ornaments
This Year - new for 2015 - Wendt and Kühn has introduced a second Slumber Vault (the first being a Slumber Vault to house your Angel Musicians)  - storage box - tailor-made for the safekeeping of your Wendt & Kühn Grunhainichen Angel Christmas Ornaments
Sealed at the factory - the ornament vault measures 18 inches wide x 12 inches deep and 4 inches high and is made of presentation-quality cardboard. 30 compartments house your Grunhainichen Angel ornament collection. The Angel ornaments are pictured on all four sides of the vault.
An exquisite answer for storing and protecting your prized Wendt and Kuhn Christmas ornaments year-in-year-out. Â
Christian Ulbricht Ornament Sampler - A Delightful Gift or a Little Something Special for You
When it comes to adding something new to your Christmas tree this year, you can't top our Christian Ulbricht Ornament Sampler -Â
Save a little money and enjoy these classic wooden, matte finish, with primary colors, ornaments from the Erzgebirge (the Ore Mountains) - Germany's Christmas folk art center.
A wonderful gift!
