The Story of the Dalahorse
- 7 years ago
- Views : 1547
- Ellen Ripa
The Dalahorse is a treasured icon amongst Swedish communities. Hand whittled and painted, the little wooden horses originated from the Swedish provence of Dalarna.
Initially hand made as a toy for children, the Dalahorse had humble beginnings when it was born in the 17th century! Made from left over pieces of wood, each horse was painted with bright and bold colours inspired by surrounding patterns. Individual and unique, they gained popularity and soon found their place as a decorative item throughout many households.
400 years on, and the Dalahorse has maintained its presence as an icon for Sweden and beyond. It has since been replicated in various materials as well as print form across a variety of mediums. It looks like they are here to stay!
If you’re after your own, theswedishwoodenhorse.com sells the popular red painted Dalahorse among others. For a modern twist on the traditional, Skandihome.com has sophisticated brass and cast bronze Dalahorses! Or if you’ve fallen in love and it’s become an obsession; hemslojd.com has everything from jewellery to cookie cutters, all dalahorse-inspired!