Hand carved Dala horses in basswood

Though I'm American and not Swedish, I have a great respect for Swedish craft, especially the Dalahast. Known to English-speakers as the Dala horse, with its classic, sturdy, yet beautiful design, it's always a pleasure to carve.

These horses are my version of the traditional Dalahast, left unpainted. I carved lines to highlight the horses' manes and tails, but the rest is up to the imagination.