'Wooden It' - Black Forest Artisans
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (323672)
Rockingham, Australia
November 30, 2015 7:50am CST
While we were in Freiburg our friend took us to an Open Air Museum. This was based on a typical Black Forest homestead of several centuries ago. We spent several hours there as there was a lot to see. I been over and over the photos to try to reduce the number but I think I'll do two posts. At 4 seconds each photo, sixteen photos takes just over a minute so hopefully those who are interested will be able to spare that amount of time.
The photos accompanying this post show how the early Black Forest settlers utilised the wood that was at their disposal. Almost everything was handmade and mostly of wood. Even the cogged machines were made of wood. One is a hemp press and one an olive press. The houses were built on the side of a hill with the front several stories high but the back section allowing horse-drawn vehicles to enter at ground level. Thus the photo of the gutter shows it as only inches above the ground.
Wooden troughs were trickle fed from wooden pipes. The supports holding the eaves are of forked branches and the fence is very cleverly made to obviate the necessity for wire or nails. Baskets, hats and slippers were made of straw and cupboards decorated with painted designs. Musical instruments such as this violin were also made by the settlers.
A lady was making a variety of brushes using the bristles from pigs. Black and white bristles were both used to create some clever designs. Others were carving little wooden ornaments and other mementos.
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8 responses
@RasmaSandra (72506)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
30 Nov 15
@JudyEv love these posts of yours. The Black Forest isn't that also home of the original cuckoo clocks???? Thanks for sharing the video. Fascinating.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 15
@sofssu It is quite small. About 4 inches long and 1 1/2 wide. The part you hold is a horse's head and it has black and white bristles. I guess it's like a tiny crumb brush. If you blow up the photo of the brushes, ones like mine are on the extreme left.
@chrisandmark (606)
• United Kingdom
2 Dec 15
Sounds fascinating - your photos are beautiful too
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@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Dec 15
Glad you like the photos. I am enjoying going back through them.
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Dec 15
It is an open air museum so a lot of the exhibits are outside.
@Tampa_girl7 (48855)
• United States
1 Dec 15
You are making me homesick for Germany.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Dec 15
Oh, what a shame. Have you been back often - or at all?