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 -
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.
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.
'Tis the Season to Gather and Send Advent Calendars
Advent Calendars are a special part of the Christmas season. From December 1 through Christmas Eve open a little door to discover an image or a biblical quote. They are simple and of an everlasting nature (spiritually and because they can often be reused year-in-year- out). They bring us a bit of "quiet time" amid all the hustle-bustle.
Angels Looking After the Children
All of the advent calendars that we offer come, of course, from Germany. We try to add a significant selection of new ones each year.
and rejoice in keeping as many of the standard classics as well.
Santa and Angel with Horse Drawn Sled
They make a perfect little gift for family and friends - add a touch of joy throughout the holiday season. Find our full selection here - German Advent Calendars .
The Legend of the Christmas Spider - the Tradition of Tinsel
The story of the Christmas Spider appears in many different versions throughout central and eastern Europe. In all of them the spiders' webs, spun on Christmas Eve, turn to silver and are seen as the beginning of the beautiful tradition of hanging sparkling tinsel on your Christmas tree. The tinsel symbolizes a Christmas miracle from long ago.
And, the Christmas Spider legend beckons us to give thanks to the industrious spiders by hanging a spider ornament in a special place on our trees.
In Germany, the legend has it that a poor woman was unable to provide the traditional decorations for the Christmas holiday. A spider, who had narrowly escaped the dust mop, made his home in her tree and began to spin beautiful webs. On Christmas morning, the first light of the day struck the cobwebs, turning them to silver. When the woman awoke, she found the tree covered with silver treasure - the spider had brought good fortune! And the tradition of hanging tinsel on one's Christmas tree was begun.
This Christmas, pair the Christmas Spider ornament from Inge-Glas with one of these two delightful children's books as a charming addition to your Christmas traditions.
Cobweb Christmas: The Tradition of Tinsel by Shirley Cimo with illustrations by Jane Manning -
and
The Spider's Gift: A Ukrainian Christmas Story by retold by Eric A. Kimmel with illustrations by Katya Krenina
There is nothing more special than adding a touch of folklore with a piece of Inge-Glas folk art to your Christmas.
Enjoy our Pinterest Board on Inge-Glas - here
The Helbig Workshop Nativity - Your Way
The nativity set from the Emil Helbig Workshop, the oldest wood-carving work shop in the Erzgebirge (Germany's Christmas Capital), is without a doubt one of, if not the, finest hand-carved German nativity sets.
The joy of the Emil Helbig Workshop nativity is all the possibilities - rejoice in the complete set (above).
Choose a Helbig Nativity with a Bavarian stable (below) and a selection of nativity figures plus Bavarian accessories.
Choose the simplicity (below) of the Helbig Mary, Joseph, and Jesus with a hand-carved tree and a tree platform (both from the Erzgebirge).
or choose a set of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus (below)
When and if you want to add additional Helbig figures to your selection, we now offer all of them separately -
the ox - 
and the camels - 
We feel privileged to be able to offer the Emil Helbig nativity figures to you. To find them in our shop - click here or on any of the photographs above.
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Grunhainichen - A Toy Makers Village
Winner of the 2007 Erzgebirge Craftsman and Toy Makers Association
Award for Outstanding Care in Preserving the Erzgebirge Tradition
Olde German Treasures Silver Gift Set from Inge-Glas
In our quest to create Inge-Glas gift sets - ones that meet all your gift needs, including smaller ones for a wedding or bridal shower present, we were particularly struck with the Silver ornaments from the Olde German Treasures collection.
Inge-Glas Olde German Treasures celebrate both German tradition and art form. It was the style around 1900 for a tree to be decorated using only silver and white. To honor that tradition with their Olde German Tresures collection Inge-Glas carefully chose ornaments made from real antique, lovingly restored, old-glass blowing moulds. As always, Inge-Glas ornaments are mouth-blown and use pure sterling silver.
For the bride and groom, the tradition is to present a collection of good wishes .... symbols of a happy home to bring good fortune. The ornaments come in an Inge-Glas gift box and have a symbol card explaining their importance:
Our feeling was that they are simply elegant. As a gift, whether for a wedding, or a dear friend, they are classic, distinguished, and will always stand out on a tree - catching the light in much the same way that tinsel does.
To find the Silver Gift Set - click here or on the image above. They are, indeed, rather irresistible!
Christmas Tree Finials from the Erzgebirge - A Tree to Top Your Tree
This year we have added several hand-shaved (spanbaum) wooden Christmas tree finials to our offerings. They are splendidly crafted in the Erzgebirge and we are ever so pleased to carry them.
These two tree toppers feature spanbaum trees that have been cut in half - the stars in the center are on both sides
click on the image above or find here 
click on the image above or find here
The third is "three dimensional" with full spanbaum trees all around
find here
Trees atop your tree - they will naturally add a touch of majesty to your tree!
