Blue Swedish Dala Horse Dark Blue | Handcrafted by Nils Olsson in Sweden

Nils Olsson Dark Blue Dala Horse — Hand-Carved in Nusnäs, Sweden

A deep, saturated dark blue — more navy than royal — with the classic hand-painted kurbits (floral folk-art) across the saddle and harness. The Dark Blue is the Nils Olsson workshop's signature blue, and it reads more sober and formal than the brighter royal blue from Grannas down the road.

Hand-carved from local Nusnäs pine, sanded to the smooth Nils Olsson standard, dipped, and hand-painted in the workshop founded in 1928 by the Olsson brothers. Because every piece is finished freehand, no two horses are identical.

Available in eight sizes from 3 cm to 25 cm. The 13 cm size is the classic gift; the 16 and 20 cm are the sizes collectors most often reach for in dark blue.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is dark blue different from royal blue?

The Nils dark blue is a deeper, more navy tone — closer to ink than to cornflower. The Grannas royal blue is brighter and more saturated. Both are Nusnäs-made and hand-painted, but the two blues read differently in a room.

What does the kurbits look like on dark blue?

The classic multi-color kurbits — white highlights, colored flowers, curved harness — reads with high contrast against the dark field, which is part of why dark blue is one of the most popular non-red Nils colors.

Is dark blue a less common color?

Dark blue is a Nils Olsson catalog staple — not as ubiquitous as red, but consistently in production. It's often the second horse buyers reach for after the classic red.