A Dalecarlian horse (Swedish: Dalahäst) is a traditional wooden statuette of a horse originating in the Swedish province of Dalarna (Dalecarlia). In the older days the dala horse was mostly a toy for children, but nowadays it is used as a symbol for Dalarna or sometimes the whole of Sweden.

Traditionally a dala horse is painted bright red with details and a harness in white, green, yellow and blue. It may also be painted bright blue or, in the Rättvik area, grey. The somewhat odd shape of the horse is said to be derived from the clocks industry in the region. The horses were originally made of the cutoff corners when making the round clock face.

It was in the small log-cabins deep in the forests during the long winter nights in front of a log fire that the forerunner of the dala horse was born. Using simple tools, generally only a knife, toys were carved for the children. The fact that many horses were made was only natural, because the horse to them was invaluable. A trusty friend and worker who could pull great loads of timber from the forests during the winter months and in the summer could be of just as much use on the farm. It is said by some to be Odin's horse Sleipner, but unlike Sleipner it does not have eight legs.

The earliest references of wooden horses for sale are from 1623 - nearly 400 years ago. The pattern of today is about 150 years old, and it reflects a style of painting known as kurbits. In the 19th century, Stickå-Erik Hansson from Mora, introduced the technique of painting with two colours in the same brush, still used today. The horse of today is still a handicraft article, made of pine, and at least nine different people contribute their skill to create each horse.

Production

Grannas A. Olssons Hemslöjd AB was founded 1922 and is today the oldest company making dala horses. Nils Olssons Hemslöjd is almost as old. Most horses today are made in Nusnäs, a little village outside Mora.

The wood from which the figures are carved come from the slow-growing pine forest around Lake Siljan. The wood is ideal for carpentry and carving. The trees to be made into horses are marked out while still standing in the forest. Only the best timber will be selected for carving into horses. The trees are then felled and sawn into pieces of a suitable size for the blanks that will eventually be made into horses.

The blanks are sawn and carved by hand. Because of this, no two horses are exactly alike. The horses are dipped in primer immediately after carving. This shows up any defects that may need remedying. After priming, cavities are filled in to ensure extra smoothness. The horses are polished to give them a smooth, attractive finish.

After sanding, the horses are dipped into paint of the appropriate colour. The traditional pattern is painted free-hand by practised ”ripple” painters. The art of rippling requires great skill and takes many years to learn. Finally, ”all the fine horses” are varnished and sent out from Nusnäs to serve as a symbol of Sweden in the outside world.

See also

• Dølahest