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Artisans of the Forest – Deep in the Valley of Woodcarvers

By Kate & Vin 29 Comments

Hiking down from Seceda to Ortisei
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With the Dolomites lording over the forests of South Tyrol’s Val Gardena, it’s easy to let the peaks capture all the glory. But you would miss out on a vast world of artistic splendor if your eyes never wander below the heavens

SOUTH TYROL IS A DREAM for creative types. Especially in Val Gardena. The hard-working people of this storybook land possess such celebrated craftsmanship their captivating creations adorn some of the greatest cathedrals and architectural wonders in the world.

But our discovery of these earthly talents almost didn’t happen. Not without an encouraging nudge from Mother Nature. On most outdoor adventures, bad weather is a misfortune. Yet sometimes, just sometimes, it can actually be luck in disguise. That was the case for us the day we came to love Val Gardena for far more than the majesty of its mountains.

The Call of the Mountain

The forecast said rain throughout South Tyrol. A glance out our balcony confirmed it. Clouds blushing with anger brooded upon the summits of Merano.

Our plan for the day had been to drive into Val Gardena and hike Seceda — one of the most iconic mountain scenes in the world. Seceda stirred in our imagination ever since gushing over pictures of its saw-tooth peaks looming above a sweeping Alpine pasture called Col Raiser.

We debated scrapping the hiking outing. Hopping from one winery to the next along the South Tyrolean Wine Road came up as an enticing alternative. But as much as we love wine, the call of the mountain was too hard to ignore. Who knows, we thought. Perhaps the Alpine gods will look upon us with favor and sweep away the gloom by the time we reach the village of Ortisei.

An Unexpected Discovery in Val Gardena

Val Gardena Rain Storm
Rain and more rain in St Christina.

Less than an hour into our drive, the rain began. Softly at first, like a gardener sprinkling her flowers. Then as we turned off the A22 towards Val Gardena, the sprinkle swelled into a fire hose. We flicked the car wipers into Mach 10 and hugged the road as best we could.

By the time we arrived in Ortisei, the rain didn’t let up so we drove another 20 minutes to St. Christina. No luck. It came down even harder. We turned around. Back in Ortisei the downpour finally dwindled to a sprinkle. But the storm clouds stubbornly clung to the evergreens all along the mountain slopes. It was quite clear the Dolomities were going to be in a foul mood the rest of the day. We tossed out our hiking plans. Whatever mountainous glory lay high above the treetops was to remain a mystery to us. 

Deciding where to settle our gaze first was like trying to decide which rose to smell in a bouquet.

As we knew next to nothing about Ortisei, we decided to venture to Brixen for the remainder of the day. Yet even under the thick canopy of clouds, the Alpine charm of Ortisei was undeniable. Timber-roofed chalets bearing balconies flush with bright geraniums revealed themselves through the morning mist. We made a note to come back and wander the village when the weather was more friendly.

But before departing, just off the road, we spotted a stunning stone studio clad in sheaths of glass allowing passersby to peer into its soul. Inside, stood hauntingly beautiful figures. Motionless, but full of life. A maroon sign on the facade said “DEUR Sculptures”. We had to check it out.

Encounters with Wood Carving Mastery

DEUR Sculptures in Ortisei

We walked into a showroom decorated from floor to ceiling with a treasure chest of artwork chiseled from wood. Deciding where to settle our gaze first was like trying to decide which rose to smell in a bouquet. Everything looked inviting. The elaborate artistry was astounding. From rows of Madonnas cradling child to hallowed angels and saints to figurines from all walks of life, the amount of talent on display rivaled a museum.

We perused the shelves studying the expert craftsmanship, but a wall adorned with crucifixes of all sizes, wood types and styles caught our eyes. Not surprising, really, since we found the heartfelt devotion many South Tyroleans have towards their faith endearing. They honor it in charming ways throughout the land with everything from sloped-roof wayside shrines along trails to intricately carved crucifixes hung in taverns, restaurants and lodges.

DEUR Sculptures Ski Figurines
DEUR Sculptures Mother & Child Woodcarving
DEUR Sculptures Crucifixes

We spent some time looking over each one and were greeted in German by Nadia Demetz, DEUR Sculptures sales leader. We wrestled out some words in response. She gave us a wide, knowing smile and replied in English. Further international embarrassment averted. Nadia informed us of the price of a crucifix we liked in particular. Its weathered wood encapsulated the face of Christ with authentic sorrow. It brought to mind relics we had admired during our time in South Tyrol. We were sold.

As Nadia was packaging our purchase, she revealed the secret of Val Gardena’s creative mastery. We discovered the area is often referred to as the “Valley of Woodcarvers” as sculpting is the chief occupation of many residents. She relayed the wood carving tradition in Val Gardena began in the 1600s by the Ladin people. With farming not possible in the winter, families passed time carving toys, religious figurines and tools.

This cultural heritage fascinated us. We had to know more. We asked if we could visit with her on our return visit to Ortisei to learn more about the wood carving tradition and DEUR Sculptures. Nadia said of course as she was the daughter of the owner.

The Forges of Chisel & Mallet

The mood of the mountains was much more amiable when we came back to Ortisei this past fall. All of the Alpine glory we missed on our first visit was now on full display. Clear skies prevailed throughout the morning allowing us to finally ascend and wander what very well may be the Dolomites’ greatest masterpiece: Seceda.

After our hiking outing, we returned to DEUR Sculptures to meet Nadia for a grand tour of her family business. She picked up where she left off by diving deeper into the history of wood carving in South Tyrol. Nadia stated historical documents provide evidence of two Ladin families, Tröbinger and Vinatzer, carving wood with their children as early as 1624. 

We were awestruck. The skill it takes to chisel such uncanny resemblance from a block of wood is remarkable.

The wood carvings of Val Gardena eventually found demand beyond the farmsteads as artisans traveled to nearby cities like Innsbruck, Milan, Munich and even Paris to exchange their crafts for other goods. By the late 1800s, wood carving grew into a viable source of income for many Ladin families. So much so that wood carving schools arose to formalize the teaching the craft from one generation to the next. Today, the wood carvings of Val Gardena are found in all corners of the world.

⇒ See More: Discover the massive wine casks chiseled by Val Gardena woodcarvers deep within the wine cellar of Elena Walch.

DEUR Sculptures is Born

The seeds for DEUR Sculptures began in 1954 when Nadia’s grandfather, Oswald Demetz, enrolled in a carving apprenticeship. His father was a wood turner and his mother a sculptor so pursuing a wood carving career was only natural.

Nadia Demetz at DEUR Sculptures
Granddaughter of Oswald Demetz, Nadia, explains the technique behind painting a wood carving.

Oswald nourished his creative talents under a master woodcarver for 12 years. In that time, he established a renowned reputation for excellence and scrupulous attention to detail. In 1966,  this hard-earned reputation led him to found DEUR Sculptures. The name of which comes from the shop he initially opened in St. Christina.

His son, Karlheinz, made it a family business by joining in 1985. Together, they grew DEUR Sculptures beyond religious art and nativity scenes to include relief wall carvings, furniture and secular figures such as clowns, folk characters, gnomes, animals and much more.

DEUR Sculptures now even creates custom carvings based on pictures or sketches they receive. These personalized pieces include life-size figures of individuals, as well as beloved pets. Nadia shared images of this custom work with us. We were awestruck. The skill it takes to chisel such uncanny resemblance from a block of wood is remarkable.

DEUR Sculptures African Woman Woodcarving
Winemaker Woodcarving
Val Gardena Wood Carvings
DEUR Sculptures Clown Woodcarvings

Now one of the largest wood carving companies in South Tyrol, DEUR Sculptures’ staff is made up of specialty wood carvers, painters, business managers and a sales team who promote the company’s creations around the world. Many religious institutions look to DEUR for their artwork, as well as other organizations that do not deal in the divine. Recently, the company sold a life-size nativity scene to Stiegl Brewery, which is on display in Salzburg, Austria during the Christmas season.

How a Woodcarver’s Vision Takes Form

After giving us a historical perspective, Nadia walked through the actual art of wood carving. Once DEUR selects a subject to carve it is first sculpted out of plasticine (modeling clay). This prep work takes a sculptor 2-3 days; however, the time spent is well worth it. The finished plasticine sculpture becomes the model — making carving from a block of wood much easier and greatly minimizing the risk of costly mistakes.

With a model to emulate, a woodcarver can produce a 2 ft. figurine in less than 2 weeks. But the production time frame is also dependent on the wood type used. DEUR carves a variety of wood species with the most common being pine, maple and lime.

Plasticine Clay Models for Woodcarving
Creating clay models of the subject is the first step in wood carving.

Thanks to the abundance of pine in the Alps, the woodcarvers of Val Gardena perfected their craft over centuries using the soft wood. Nowadays with greater access to woods from all over the world, DEUR can be more selective in matching the perfect wood species for a given subject.

For example, DEUR Sculptures uses maple for smaller figures. It’s a hardwood with bright color and minimal branches — an ideal choice for chiseling details. DEUR’s grandest sculptures arise from limewood. Softer than maple with a close grain and few branches, it is less liable to warp than other hardwoods like oak or walnut. Additional wood types used, although less frequently, include chestnut, nutwood, cherry wood, ash wood and oak. 

It’s one thing to be moved by a finished piece of art, but to see the artist’s vision unfold before your eyes is truly powerful.

When a woodcarver finishes a piece, DEUR will either leave it in its natural state or have a painter transform the artwork with even more detail. Nadia indicated they use three different coloring styles: brown toning, oil painting or antiquing. In antiquing, the artist applies 22-karat gold foil to give the carving a more vintage appearance and appeal. Layering gold foil over a piece is called gold leafing or gilding.

 DEUR Sculptures artist painting a wood carving with oil colors.
A DEUR Sculptures artist painting a wood carving with oil colors.

A Master Woodcarver at Work

Nadia led us to a studio off of the showroom so we could watch a woodcarver in action. Upon entering, the rich aroma of fresh cut wood instantly enveloped us. A carver stood chiseling on a block of wood suspended on a post. His eyes flashed up momentarily to politely greet us before returning to his subject with a steady rhythm of gentle knocks.

Watching him masterfully perform his artistry was riveting. It’s one thing to be moved by a finished piece of art, but to see the artist’s vision unfold before your eyes is truly powerful. We studied his mesmerizing movements as he fashioned a sorrowful Madonna from a piece of chestnut wood. The beautiful detail he chiseled left no doubt it would only take the breath of life to make the wooden Madonna a living soul.

DEUR Sculptures Woodcarver
Carving a Wood Madonna
A DEUR Sculptures master woodcarver chiseling a Madonna figure from chestnut.

We could have easily spent the rest of the afternoon watching the carver seemingly dance around his subject, but did not want to overstay our welcome in the studio. No one likes a voyeur lurking over your shoulder while concentrating on a work of art.

Venture into the Valley of Woodcarvers

Nadia finished our tour by sharing with us the work DEUR Sculptures has done to make their artistry more accessible worldwide. Much of her time over the last several months was spent capturing artwork imagery and descriptions for a new storefront on their website. Thousands of products can now be purchased from DEUR Sculptures’ online shop. They ship to virtually any country in the world. Each item sold includes a certificate authenticating it is handmade in South Tyrol.

Kate & Nadia

Of course as impressive as their website is nothing compares to browsing their shop in Ortisei. And if you’re venturing deeper into Val Gardena, you can also visit the original DEUR Sculptures shop in St. Christina.

Stopping in either location is an enamoring introduction to the wood carving tradition of South Tyrol. With more than half the region blanketed by forest, purchasing a carving is a perfect way to bring a bit of South Tyrol into your home.

DEUR Sculptures Shop in St. Christina
The charming DEUR Sculptures shop in St. Christina.

Once you leave DEUR Sculptures, you’ll not only have an incredible piece of art, but also the conviction that within the hands of their artisans, there is scarcely any limit to the beautiful forms and expressions they can carve.

We’d like to give a special thank you to Nadia for her time and giving us a wonderful glimpse into South Tyrol’s wood carving tradition.

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Val Gardena Woodcarvers
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Filed Under: Get to Know South Tyrol Tagged With: Ortisei, St. Christina, Val Gardena, Wood Carving

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Linda (LD Holland) says

    February 10, 2019 at 1:57 pm

    I do love when you get an unexpected treat. Rain sometimes does force you to try different things. So great that your day turned out so great. I am always so amazed at what artists can create out of basic materials. The detail on the wooden carvings looks exquisite. I guess that is what you might expect in the “Valley of the Woodcarvers”. I loved the look at some of the colourful DEUR sculptures.

    Reply
  2. sherianne says

    February 5, 2019 at 10:43 pm

    Bummer the rain squashed your hiking plans, but it sure makes St Christina a brilliant shade of green. The wood carvings are so detailed!

    Reply
  3. Harvey (H-Bomb's Worldwide Karaoke) says

    February 5, 2019 at 7:40 pm

    The detailing on these woodcarvings is beyond exquisite. And I like that they can make custom carvings based on photographs – such a commissioned piece would be a great gift idea!

    Reply
  4. Claire says

    February 4, 2019 at 9:08 am

    I love it how sometimes the universe steers you in the right direction and you have a much better time than the one you had planned! The sculptures are beautiful, the craftsmanship is incredible – although I’m sure seeing it up close is even better!

    Reply
  5. Jody Robbins says

    February 3, 2019 at 9:48 pm

    Now I really want to get to Val Gardena. It’s so fantastic these local artisans are still in business. I hope it does draw tourism to the area. I’d love to watch these master craftspeople. It’s a draw to South Tryol for sure.

    Reply
  6. Anda says

    February 3, 2019 at 5:48 pm

    The craftsmanship of these woodcarvers is indeed amazing. Such detail and expressivity in these woodcarvings! I’d love to visit Tyrol’s Val Gardena someday. That view of the Dolomites is astounding!

    Reply
  7. Carol Colborn says

    February 3, 2019 at 7:06 am

    We we’re in Tyrol last October. Had no idea if this haven’t forest by artisans. It would have been awesome to see those woodcarvings in person!

    Reply
  8. Stevo Joslin says

    February 3, 2019 at 2:04 am

    The wood carvings are unbelievable! Such detail and color from a block of wood! The craftsmanship involved looks very intense. It’s always special to get a chance to see works of art unfold from their medium. Thanks for the how-to on how they create their works, the process is fascinating and requires a large repertoire of skills. These artworks are definitely great ways to bring home part of your adventure with you. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Kate & Vin says

      February 3, 2019 at 7:34 am

      You’re welcome Stevo! We feel very lucky to have been able to go behind the scenes with DEUR Sculptures to gain insight into the wood carving craft of South Tyrol. Thank you for commenting.

      Reply
  9. Brianna Simmons says

    February 2, 2019 at 8:57 pm

    I’m always fascinated by local crafts and could easily spend all day at the DEUR showroom. The craftsmanship of those woodcarvers is amazing, they almost look like porcelain.

    Reply
  10. Jenn and Ed Coleman says

    February 2, 2019 at 5:27 pm

    I love seeing crafts made by local artisans. It sounds like they have a story that goes back many generations and could really commemorate your trip to a place like this.

    Reply
  11. Fiona Maclean says

    February 2, 2019 at 4:37 pm

    I love that you discovered something so special because of bad weather. The “Valley of Woodcarvers” does have some really beautiful artisan carvings.

    Reply
  12. Rahma Khan says

    February 1, 2019 at 2:26 am

    TBH I had no idea about these carvings in South Tyrol! Thanks for educating me. A really fascinating tradition.

    Reply
  13. Carly says

    January 31, 2019 at 5:04 pm

    Those carvings would make perfect souvenirs! They completely capture the rural charm and lush forest of the region!

    Reply
  14. Candy says

    January 31, 2019 at 4:54 pm

    Such a fun read and what a wonderful experience you had. The clay models reminded me of my mother who was a clay artist in her youth. The carvings are so intricate and beautiful.

    Reply
  15. Sarah says

    January 31, 2019 at 1:43 pm

    Oh my gosh! I absolutely love the Dolomites! The mountains here are so stunning! Thank you for telling us about the artists hidden in the nooks of this wonderful place.

    Reply
    • Kate & Vin says

      January 31, 2019 at 2:32 pm

      You’re welcome Sarah! See you on the sunny side of the Alps! 🙂

      Reply
  16. Christin says

    January 31, 2019 at 12:48 pm

    When I heard people talk about South Tyrol before it was usually related to hiking or skiing, I had no idea they have such a fascinating local craftsmanship tradition. These wood carvings are impressive! The more cheaply produced plastic accumulates in the world around me, the more I learn to appreciate craftsmen like Nadia who make and paint sculptures by hand.

    Reply
    • Kate & Vin says

      January 31, 2019 at 1:46 pm

      Glad we could show you another side of South Tyrol! Handmade artistry is definitely to be celebrated in today’s world.

      Reply
  17. Mayi says

    January 31, 2019 at 9:15 am

    These wood carvers are so skilled! The sculptures are really done perfectly. This is my first time hearing of South Tyrol and Val Gardena so I have learnt something new today! Also the first two pictures of mountains are simply beautiful.

    Reply
    • Kate & Vin says

      January 31, 2019 at 1:42 pm

      Thank you Mayi! Glad we could introduce you to a new destination! Feel free to reach out with any questions if you plan to visit.

      Reply
  18. Ketki says

    January 31, 2019 at 7:13 am

    South Tyrol’s wood carving tradition looks fantastic and each Val Gardena sculpture is a masterpiece. The views are so stunning as well. Would love to go here someday. This is a great find.

    Reply
  19. Bea says

    January 31, 2019 at 6:19 am

    Unbelievable! We were just in South Tyrol this past summer and completely missed the carvings. I regret that because I actually collect wood carvings from my trips. How did I miss this?? Time to book another trip there.

    Reply
    • Kate & Vin says

      January 31, 2019 at 7:24 am

      Sorry you missed out on the wood carving tradition while visiting South Tyrol! Hopefully, you get a chance to explore the expert craftsmanship when you return. Ortisei is a good place to start.

      Reply
  20. Brittany says

    January 31, 2019 at 5:59 am

    Yes those carvings are really unique! This place looks like a craft lover’s dream. Would love to visit someday!

    Reply
  21. Richa says

    January 31, 2019 at 4:12 am

    I had never heard of Val Gardena and so it was interesting to discover this place through your travels. The wooden sculptures are absolutely stunning. The DEUR Sculptures shop itself looks so charming.

    Reply
    • Kate & Vin says

      January 31, 2019 at 6:13 am

      Glad we could introduce you to the region! Hope you get a chance to visit one day.

      Reply
  22. Shelby says

    January 30, 2019 at 10:26 pm

    These carvings are so beautifully intricate! It is incredible the unexpected experiences you can have when you don’t let a little weather get you down! I will definitely have to visit South Tyrol to see the skilled wood carvings!

    Reply
  23. Hayley says

    January 30, 2019 at 9:47 pm

    This is so beautiful. I’ve never even heard of Val Gardena but now I’m very much intrigued. Must have been such an experience venturing into the valley of woodcarvers.

    Reply

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