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German Christmas Tree Pine Cone Candle Holders

Posted on November 30, 2013 | 0 Comments

In the 17th century, the Germans created the first lights on a Christmas tree by pinning or tying candles to the tree - using melted wax as an adhesive (much as we, today, use candle wax to affix a candle to a table top candle holder).  In 1878 Frederick Artz invented the clip-on candle holder. This wonderful painting, Merry Christmas, by Danish painter Viggo Johansen in 1891 celebrates the Christmas tree alight with candles.

For the first year, My Growing Traditions offers German Pine Cone Candle Holders for you to clip-on to your Christmas Tree.  They are available in both silver or gold colored metals

 

 

 

 and clip-on (exactly as Artz designed) easily to your tree.  
In addition, we offer boxes of ten (10) candles 
in three colors:  
white, a beeswax color, and red, all in paraffin that is smokeless and dripless.
                                                      
It is fun to think of using these on a table-top tree, lighting the candles for a special occasion during the Christmas season.
You may enjoy our German Christmas board on Pinterest.

Posted in Christmas Candles, German Christmas

New for 2013 Wendt and Kühn Angels

Posted on November 29, 2013 | 0 Comments

My Growing Traditions offers two new Angels introduced by Wendt and Kühn in 2013.

A Marguerite - Snowflake Angel working hard in Santa's workshop 

creating a doll.  Given the diminutive size of the Marguerite Angels (1.5 inches tall), the cakes, angels, dolls, jumping jacks, rocking horses, etc. that they hold and carry are incredibly small. Extraordinary skill is required to create these delightful figures. The daisy chain garland gives the Marguerite Angels their name - Marguerites being a small delicate daisy flower. Their daisy crowns were once made of tin. When tin became scarce, in the 1940s, Wendt and Kühn turned to a delicate embossed cardboard for the daisy garland. 

And, a Classic Angel (2.5" tall)

with Teapot and Flower. At their workshop in Grunhainichen, Germany, Wendt and Kuhn employs 155 workers.  

Eighty of them are painters, but only four of those 80 artisans paint faces. They have a very special hand. 

You may enjoy our Pinterest board on Wendt and Kuhn angels.


Posted in Angels, German Christmas, Wendt and Kühn

Emil Helbig Exhibit at the Seiffen Toy Museum - and yes, we carry their wonderful folk art

Posted on November 27, 2013 | 0 Comments

If, by any chance, you plan to travel to Germany before the 4th of May 2014, make a side-trip to Seiffen and their Toy Museum.  From 16 November 2013 and 4 May 2014, the Toy Museum is holding a special exhibit of the work of the Emil Helbig Workshop in Grunhainichen. Founded 80 years ago, the Helbig Workshop is one of the oldest existing wood working workshops (Schnitzwerkstatten) in the Erzgebirge and considered one of its finest.

A graduate of the Dresden Arts and Crafts School in 1919, Helbig worked at the Meissen porcelain factory where he was discovered by Professor Alwin Seifert, the director of the "State Toy School." Helbig founded his own very special workshop in Grunhainichen in 1933. The exhibit at the Toy Museum includes many pieces that have never before been seen by the public.

We proudly carry their nativity, from the Mary, Joseph, and Jesus (shown here) to a full set of other nativity figures

and many of their Christmas ornaments, this angel being only one of them. Visit here to see more delightful Helbig Christmas ornaments.

 

We look forward to carrying more and more Helbig folk art over the years.  Let us know if there are specific pieces you are interested in.

Posted in Angels, Emil Helbig, Erzgebirge, German Christmas, German Folk Art, Nativities

Nestled Contentment

Posted on November 25, 2013 | 0 Comments

New for 2013, Nestled Contentment (Inge-Glas no. 1-004-13, 3" tall) is a Limited Edition of 999 pieces, with Presentation Box. Each piece is hand-numbered.

The coloration is not a perfect match, however, this little bird reminds us of an American Robin, especially the nest.

We love Inge-Glas' bird ornaments - and they are renowned for them - but we do admit, that the two new ones this year (see also the Resting Waterfowl) each with an elegant bird sitting on its nest, and with the nests made of natural materials, are very special.  

Nestled Contentment will, without a doubt, become a Collector's piece.

 

Posted in Birds, German Christmas, Inge-Glas

Cooking Pot

Posted on November 22, 2013 | 0 Comments

New for 2013, Inge-Glas' Cooking Pot comes in four classic colors - blue, red, green, and flame - 

all reminiscent of the cast iron pots from France made by Le Creuset that we are all so familiar with. 

Click on the images above to find them in our shop.

A celebration of the cook in all of us and perfect for the Christmas tree. A remembrance of that delectable stew or soup filling our kitchens with an irresistible aroma. 

You may enjoy exploring Le Creuset's manufacturing process and their iconic colors.

 

 

Posted in French Christmas, German Christmas, Inge-Glas

Chef's Hat

Posted on November 11, 2013 | 0 Comments

The Chef's Hat, is one of Inge-Glas of Germany's new Christmas ornaments for 2013.

The chef's hat is a part of a traditional chef's uniform. Sir William Orpen's ca. 1929 painting of that traditional uniform 

in Le Chef de l'Hotel Chatham, Paris is owned by the Royal Academy of Arts in London. It is an exquisite depiction of that classic Chef's uniform, including the hat, also known as a toque. The toque (French for "white hat") was especially popular throughout Europe, and particularly in France, from the 13th to the 16th centuries. It is worn to this day by professional chefs, for sanitary reasons to be certain, but also simply because of its tradition. It is said that the present day Chef's Hat was popularized by the famous French chefs Marie-Antoine Careme and Auguste Escoffier.

Inge-Glas' Chef's Hat is a fun addition to the Christmas tree for any gourmet, cook, foodie, or for anyone who simply enjoys a celebration of food.

 

Posted in German Christmas, Inge-Glas

Santa Gift Box

Posted on November 07, 2013 | 0 Comments

When we visited the workshop of Bettina Franke in Deutschneudorf (a little town just adjacent to Seiffen, the center of the Christmas wood-carving area in the Erzgebirge), Germany, we fell in love with her work.

Over time, we have carried her Nativity sets (and they remain a favorite), and other creations, but we are especially fond of her Santa Gift Box.

Tucked inside the hand-made wooden box are: a hand-carved Santa carrying a lantern and pulling a sled with toys, two hand-carved wooden trees and two hand-carved deer. The box is complete with leather hinges and a red bow. The box is 2-1/2" high and deep and 2-3/4" wide. It is indeed a wonderful gift, but also a delightful scene for your fireplace mantle or Christmas table.  Return them after the season into the little wooden box for safe-keeping until next year.

Posted in German Christmas, German Folk Art, Santa, Trees