The Origin of the Black Forest Wooden Carving of Brienz Switzerland in 19th Century

This is a historic video tribute to the wood carvers in Brienz Switzerland and their one-hundred-year-old tradition to carve wooden animals and folklore souvenirs for the English tourists coming to see the Alps. The Hoosierwoodcraft video tells the life-story of three wood carvers, Christian Fischer, Carl L Binder, and Johann Huggler between 1815 and 1900s. It is also an historic example of the value of the apprenticeship system to teach a trade and opening schools to refine those skills.

For many years, a family was fortunate to possess a Black Forest wooden carving that accurately captured the wild creatures of the forest or know a relative who could display a walnut image of your hunting dog or your hero. Your neighbors would praise you for your artistic treasure, and recall the few times that they had seen a bear or bird of prey in nature.

The 19th Century walnut carving of a Lion in the thumbnail was typical of Brienz and the era. It was in honor of the Swiss Guard who fell in defense of the border during the French Revolution with the inscription of “Swiss Loyalty and Bravery” - based on rock relief in Lucerne.

Timestamp
0:00 European tourists Create Carving Industry
1:06 Christian Fisher as first leader focuses on realistic animal carving
3:41 Carl BInder teaches village how to mechanize
7:06 Johann Huggler creates international marketing
10:12 Credits

Seeing these carvings inspired me to join my knife with the hand and heart for the past twenty years, and I urge you to go to a park and see the natural world. The images shown in the video are not some old-timely kitsch, but representative of a nature that still exists. You still can adopt a craft and use your hands to create the folklore of the 21st Century. Please create something for your future family.

The video is another in the series of Hoosierwoodcraft. Please subscribe to this channel.