Dala Horses

Where the Dala Horse Comes From

The Dala horse — dalahäst in Swedish — began as a toy carved by lumberjacks for their children during long winters in the Dalarna province of central Sweden. In the village of Nusnäs, the craft became an industry. In 1922, Grannas Anders Olsson began producing painted wooden horses from his family's bakery — founding what is today Grannas A. Olssons Hemslöjd, the oldest surviving Dala horse company. Six years later, in 1928, the younger brothers Nils and Jannes Olsson (aged 13 and 15) borrowed 400 kronor to start a competing workshop — today's Nils Olsson Hemslöjd. Every authentic Dala horse still comes from one of these two Nusnäs workshops. The 1939 New York World's Fair put the horse on the world stage: a 2.8-meter Dala horse stood at the entrance to the Swedish Pavilion, and nearly a ton of small Dala horses were shipped to New York that spring.

The Two Makers: Grannas Olsson & Nils Olsson

Grannas A. Olssons Hemslöjd — founded 1922 in Nusnäs, the oldest Dala horse workshop still in production. Known for classic solid-color horses with traditional kurbits.

Nils Olsson Hemslöjd — founded 1928 by brothers Nils and Jannes Olsson in Nusnäs. Known for the Färnäshästen parish-specific model, the Gammelröd "old red," and the Celebrate Series.

Both carve from locally-grown Swedish pine and hand-paint each horse with kurbits — the traditional floral folk-art style that originated in Dalarna in the 18th century. Because every horse is painted by hand, no two are alike. The maker's mark is on the base of each horse.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "kurbits" mean?

Kurbits is the traditional Swedish folk-art painting style — stylized flowers, leaves, and vines — that decorates each Dala horse's saddle, harness, and body. The style originated in Dalarna province in the 18th century as church and farmhouse decoration, and it's the reason no two horses are ever identical.

Are these real, authentic Dala horses?

Yes. Every horse in this collection is hand-carved in Nusnäs, Sweden, by either Nils Olsson Hemslöjd or Grannas A. Olssons Hemslöjd — the only two workshops still producing Dala horses in the traditional way. They are the same horses sold in the Dalarna workshops.

How are Dala horses measured?

In centimeters, from the bottom of the foot to the top of the head. Inch equivalents shown on product pages are approximate, rounded to the nearest half inch.

Will the horse I receive look exactly like the photo?

The base color will match what you ordered. The kurbits pattern will vary slightly — it's painted by hand on every individual horse. The one you receive is literally one of a kind.