Name: Set of 4 Swedish Folk Wooden Dala Horse Toys, Circa 1960
Brand: Nils Olsson
Rating: 4.9 (84 reviews)

Set of 4 Swedish Folk Wooden Dala Horse Toys, Circa 1960

View Similar Items

Set of 5 Swedish Folk Wooden Dala Horse Toys, circa 1960

Swedish Wooden Toy Horse Rocker

Rare Antique Wooden Child's Ride on Wooden Toy Boat by Nautilus Toy Co. London

Vintage Toy Wooden Spelling Board, American, circa 1890

Wooden Toy Horse

Folk Art Painted Wood Horse Toys, 2

Folk Art Wood Horse Pull Toy

American Tin Toy Trolley, circa 1880

Vintage French Toy "Les Acrobates", circa 1920

Six Kobe Toys, Japanese, Meiji Period, circa 1895

Painted Wooden Toy Horse

Swedish Antique Toy Rocking Horse, All Original, Origin: Sweden, circa 1870

About the Item

Set of 4 hand-painted Swedish wooden traditional Dala horse toy. Designed by Nils Olsson in Sweden, circa 1960. Materials: Wood In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful patina. Dimensions: 25 H 24 W 7 D 25 H 24 W 7 D 15 H 13 W 4 D 10 H 10 W 3.5 D The Dala Horse (Dalahast) story dates back many hundreds of years to an area in central Sweden. In the Dalarna region, somewhere between Borlanga/Falun and Mora, the tales and historical significance of our little wooden friend exists. Carved out of scraps of wood by tradesmen, the Dala Horse embodies a part of Sweden's National heritage and is one of the icons of Sweden. There is legend that the Dala Horse became the National toy in 1716 after Swedish soldiers fighting under King Charles XII were forced to seek quarters in the homes in the Dalarna region. The winter months were brutal in central Sweden and food was limited. Many of the men had left their vocation (wood craftsmen) to take part in war throughout Europe. The nights were cold and long and to pass the time, many of them would carve animals out of wood. They carved many types of animal figures including roosters and pigs but the most notable was the horse. The horse became the sign of good luck and these carvings were often given as gifts for their hosts for food or payment for room and board. The Dala Horse has a sentimental, warm place in the hearts of many Scandinavians. Even today the horse represents qualities such as strength, faithfulness, wisdom and dignity. In rustic culture, if a farm had a horse it was a great help in supporting the family. Mora, Sweden's at the center of the Dalarna Province and at the center of the Dala Horse craft. The horse was the secure helpful friend in the field, the farm and provided transportation to the mill and the church. Many farms could not afford a horse and it is said that it was probably a farmer who realized he would never be able to afford his own horse so he created his dream horse out of wood. With knife and hand he gave the Dala Horse form and paint for decoration.

Creator:
Nils Olsson (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 19.3 in (49 cm)Width: 19.69 in (50 cm)Depth: 5.12 in (13 cm)
Style:
Folk Art (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Wood,Hand-Painted
Place of Origin:
Sweden
Period:
1960-1969
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1960
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Barcelona, ES
Reference Number:
Seller: NO.DALAHORSENILSOLSSON.XX.SL.0008501stDibs: LU1427227878782

More From This Seller

View All

Set of 5 Swedish Folk Wooden Dala Horse Toys, circa 1960

By Nils Olsson

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

Set of 5 handpainted Swedish wooden traditional Dala horse toy. Designed by Nils Olsson in Sweden, circa 1960. Materials: Wood In original condition, with...

Category

Vintage 1960s Swedish Folk Art Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood

Set of 5 Swedish Folk Wooden Dala Horse Toys, circa 1960

$3,265 Sale Price / set

25% Off

Ko Verzuu ADO Toys Houthandel Truck, circa 1940

By ADO, Ko Verzuu

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

Toy designed by Ko Verzuu, circa 1940. Manufactured by ADO in Netherlands. Truck & trailer of wood "Houthandel". In good original condition, with minor wear consistent with ag...

Category

Vintage 1940s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Toys

Materials

Wood

Ko Verzuu ADO Toys Houthandel Truck, circa 1940

$1,323 Sale Price

25% Off

Richters German Anchor Stone Blocks Building Toy

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

Richters German anchor blocks building toys / Der Geschickte Baumeister Made in Rudolstadt, Germany, circa 1900. Wooden box with printed paper labe...

Category

Antique Early 1900s German Baroque Toys

Materials

Quartz

Richters German Anchor Stone Blocks Building Toy

$1,765 Sale Price

25% Off

Richters German Anchor Stone Blocks Building Toy

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

Richters German Anchor blocks building toys / Der Geschickte Baumeister Made in Rudolstadt, Germany, circa 1900. Wooden box with printed paper labe...

Category

Antique Early 1900s German Baroque Toys

Materials

Quartz

Richters German Anchor Stone Blocks Building Toy

$1,765 Sale Price

25% Off

Ko Verzuu for Ado, Mid-Century Modern, Wood Car Construction Netherlands Toy

By Ko Verzuu, ADO

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

Toy designed by Ko Verzuu, circa 1950. Manufactured by ADO in Netherlands. Blue trailer with wooden wheel and set of blocks. Signed with an ADO metal plate. In good origina...

Category

Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Toys

Materials

Wood

Ko Verzuu for Ado, Mid-Century Modern, Wood Car Construction Netherlands Toy

$753 Sale Price

20% Off

Set of Two Rustic Wooden Spools of Thread, circa 1930

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

Rustic wooden spools of thread, by unknown manufacturer from Spain, circa 1930. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, pre...

Category

Vintage 1930s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Set of Two Rustic Wooden Spools of Thread, circa 1930

$485 Sale Price / set

25% Off

Antique Early 1900s Swedish Toys

Materials

Pine, Paint

Swedish Wooden Toy Horse Rocker

$1,050 Sale Price

30% Off

Rare Antique Wooden Child's Ride on Wooden Toy Boat by Nautilus Toy Co. London

Located in Buffalo, NY

Rare antique wooden child's ride on wooden toy boat by Nautilus Toy Co. London wonderful Folk Art object. 1920s ride on toy made by the Nautilus Toy Compan...

Category

Vintage 1920s English Folk Art Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Rare Antique Wooden Child's Ride on Wooden Toy Boat by Nautilus Toy Co. London

$2,200

Vintage Toy Wooden Spelling Board, American, circa 1890

By The Instructive Toy Company

Located in Incline Village, NV

Manufactured by "The Instructive Toy Company" of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1890 and "Patented February 16th, 1886" by Alonzo Smith (see image) this alphabet wooden spelling board was u...

Category

Antique 1890s American Victorian Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood

Vintage Toy Wooden Spelling Board, American, circa 1890

$255

Wooden Toy Horse

Located in Brecht, BE

Charming wooden toy horse, always a great decorative item in a child’s room.

Category

Early 20th Century French Toys

Materials

Softwood

Wooden Toy Horse

$2,941

Folk Art Painted Wood Horse Toys, 2

By Sarried Ltd.

Located in Astoria, NY

Group of Two Folk Art Painted Wood Horse Toys, comprising: pull horse, 1983, one mounted on rectangular base and four metal wheels, marked "Sarr...

Category

20th Century American Folk Art Toys

Materials

Metal

Folk Art Painted Wood Horse Toys, 2

$875 / set

Folk Art Wood Horse Pull Toy

Located in Garnerville, NY

Fantastic hand crafted carved wood horse pull toy. Possibly made from scraps of wood during the Depression Era resembling a Trojan Horse of sorts. Carv...

Category