What is the real story behind the somewhat ugly horse? Someone told me it was a carpenter somewhere in Dalarna who ran out of work during the long dark winters in the mid 1900s... Be that as it may, I seem to run into it in every typical Swedish American home.

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Hmmm... It's, needless to say, a matter of personal taste but I certainly don't find the dala horse ugly. And as close to a national symbol as anything... the blue and yellow flag might be stronger in people's mind but as a symbol... well, I don't think a lot of things can beat the horse, which likely did originate in the Dalarna region and has a long and quite interesting story.

I wrote a story ten years ago on the subject, based on an interview with a British born writer living in Sweden, who published a book on the subject.

I'll search for it, run under community blogs.

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Dala Horses are quite some important handcraft to our country and goes way back in history. They are a true symbol of the region Dalarna, and the different designs represent the different villages in Dalarna. If you ever visit Dalarna, you can find antique Dala Horses in local antique shops dating down to 17th century, the first originals were not even painted but simple wood carvings. Dalarna is home of lots of traditional wood craft, furniture makers and art. The first Dala Horses were actually originally solid painted but later the typical patterns of the dala horse originated in the kurbits art style and is very much representing a historic and traditional folklore of art and craft from Dalarna. Dalarna is a very historical kept region with amazing historic architecture, culture and folklore ...for example the different villages use to have their own signature languages that are still spoken today. There are even regional costumes representing the different villages, still worn by many people on holidays, weddings and ceremonies etc. If you know the history of art and culture in Dalarna, the Dala horses become a very true symbol of the swedish folklore, and is much more than just a tourist keepsake!

I am Swedish, with most of my family in Dalarna but live here in the USA. I have a scandinavian Kids Shop and we actually just brought in these darling organics inspired by the traditional Dala Horse but with a modern twist. http://vyssanlull.com/shop/index.php?target=categories&;category_id=59

Also, check out the image of the Dala horses on my current web page as these are some of the different colors you may see of todays high quality hand crafted Dala Horses.

http://vyssanlull.com/shop/

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I have an antique white Dalahorse with blue legs. Provienence: It has been used by the Swedish King Oscar II at the Swedish Royal Castle of Stockholm. I am the 7:th generation to own it now and i was thinking of perhaps selling it. I have no children who can take over it, well i will think about it.

The Swedish DalaHorses was often used as payments during the old times. The oldest are the blue ones with a very long neck with a small, small head. And after that these white ones with blue dots or even more seldom seen, those with blue rings And dots and kurbits-painting on. Those was the finest.

There is also in the same traditions, chickens, hens and cocks in black and with kurbits-painting.

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Sorry i am only the 6:th generation o the horse.

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