We noticed a home with a sign hanging out in front that indicated there was a woodcarver here. It said “Geoffnet,” so we knocked on the side door and we were welcomed in to the workshop of Andreas Hofmann. It was like going into a Santa’s workshop of sorts.
Andreas asked us if we wanted to see how he made these special trees. When I asked him how long it takes to make a tree, he said, “well, I cut the wood for these trees about a year ago.” The wood needs to age to just the perfect dryness so he can make the curls without breaking them. Andreas said he can make up to a hundred small trees in a single day. He sells these trees to other craftsmen who make the Christmas arches or the pyramids.
These are the dowels he makes to create the trees. Then he starts carving the curls, spiraling around and around.
As we visited with Andreas, we learned that he attended the open house of the Freiberg Temple several years ago and he really enjoyed it. He told us that neither of his 2 children have any interest in this craft that he learned from his grandfather. “In a few more years,” he said, “there will be no one left who knows how to do this.”
We purchased the tree he made (16 Euro) and 2 others, one smaller and one larger. What a fun memory and treasure to take home!
Our Frankfurt Germany Mission 