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86:), another man carved the animal figures out of it and another family took over the painting and the manufacture of small boxes. Earnings from the individual steps in the process were very low. Production was usually bought by travelling merchants who used their position without mercy, to force down the prices. The majority of these products was taken to the toy markets of
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It was not long before the winnings of silver ore fell in many parts of the mountains and numerous pits had to close. This hardship forced its inhabitants to look for other work and, thanks to abundance of timber in the region, the manufacture of wooden toys became an important secondary source of
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a new line of commerce developed, but the hard labour and high risks involved meant that it was only work for young and strong men. Many were injured or died as a result of accidents. The miners rose early in the morning whilst it was still dark in order to go to work and did not return home again
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in conditions of poor lighting and equipment was the rule rather than the exception. The children often had to work more than 12 hours a day. Families developed a high degree of specialisation. For example, an experienced turner would be working on turning animal shapes
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until late in the evening after dark. From those times comes a custom that has survived to the present day, the practice of placing lights in the window. These lights were intended to show the miners the safe way back to the homes of their families.
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and its surrounding area in the middle of the so-called "German
Christmas Land" as the Ore Mountains are called. A great variety of products has developed, but they are clearly associated with the Ore Mountains and go by the concept of
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DREGENO's main premises: the Guild of
Turners, Woodcarvers, Woodworkers and Toymakers in Seiffen
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income. Entire families were engaged in wooden toymaking, especially in the harsh winters.
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and redistributed from there. The formation of associations and cooperatives (such as
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Production is concentrated today in the toymaking village of
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at nutcrackerplus.qcommerce.com. Accessed on 19 Mar 11.
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are located in
Central Europe on the border between
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52:wooden toymaking in the Ore Mountains
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172:Treasures from the German Erzgebirge
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152:Ore Mountain Toy Museum, Seiffen
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207:Culture of the Ore Mountains
189:Homepage of Dregeno, Seiffen
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140:Ore Mountain candle arches
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104:Ore Mountain folk art
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120:, wooden figures (
108:Christmas pyramids
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20:Manufacture of
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32:Painting of
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22:Reifentiere
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110:, wooden
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146:See also
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60:Germany
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68:mining
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