Red Swedish Dala Horse | Handcrafted by Nils Olsson in Sweden

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

The classic red Dala horse from Nils Olsson Hemslöjd — the workshop founded in 1928 by the Olsson brothers, whose horse travelled the world as the symbol of Sweden at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Hand-carved from local Nusnäs pine, sanded noticeably smoother than horses from most other workshops, and finished with the classic hand-painted kurbits — the floral folk-art that defines a Nusnäs horse.

Every horse passes through the workshop's hand-sanding stage before it's dipped, making Nils horses distinctively smooth in the hand — a detail collectors and returning visitors often notice first. The kurbits pattern is then painted freehand, which means no two horses are identical. Yours is specifically yours.

The red Nils is the heritage Dala horse many Swedish-American families already own — the one your grandmother had on the shelf, the one given at weddings and housewarmings. 13 cm is the standard gift size; the larger sizes become mantel or entryway anchors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the red Nils compare to the red Grannas?

Same village, same tradition, different workshop. Nils horses are typically sanded smoother before paint and lean into a slightly cleaner kurbits rendering. Grannas is the older workshop (1922); Nils is the larger catalog. Most collectors have both.

Will my horse look exactly like the photo?

Close, but with hand-painted variation. The kurbits flowers, the white highlights, and the small details are painted freehand — every horse is slightly its own. That's the signature of a Nusnäs-made piece.