swedish folk horse & two riders

Made especially to mark the Year of the Horse in 2026, this unique piece consists of an extra large Swedish Dala carved wooden horse from the oldest folk horse maker still in production in Sweden. It has been painted in a vibrant bingata (traditional textile dyeing method originating in Okinawa prefecture, Japan) style pattern with pine, bamboo and plum motifs amongst cloud shapes (with the occasional bear head). Four large wooden wheels have been added together with two mini wood girl riders, who slot into the horses back.

The Year of the Horse runs from February 17th 2026 to February 5th 2027.

Horses are the seventh animal in the Chinese animal zodiac, coming after the snake and before the goat (sheep in Japan). People born in the year of the horse are said to be free-spirited, energetic and confident - they need room to express themselves and do not like to be stifled. They are intelligent and love exertion - physical and mental. They are also decisive but can be easily swayed, impatient and possess a hot temper - but as they mature and learn to harness this energy they can be unstoppable.

Artist notes:
My pieces are painted in a naïve and simple style, with visible brush strokes and differing paint consistencies. It is important to note that they are made from real wood which will have naturally occurring markings and grain, and sometimes there will be small amount of bleeding along the grain, or knots, which is to be expected when using untreated wood - please make sure you consult the pictures carefully before purchasing. Finished in a top coat of matt acrylic.

The horse is a contemporary folk piece constructed in sections joined together, and then carved following the traditional process. It has been painted with water based paints and had wheels and axles added.

The blue bear head motif appears several times in the pattern of the horse and on the four wheels.
Horse: approximately 31.5 cm high/ Wood girls: approximately 9.5cm high.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
THIS IS NOT A TOY and should be kept out of the reach of children.
Wood girls should be kept away from water which can damage the wood and painted surface, and also away from direct heat/ sunlight which also can affect the surface colour and the timber itself.