About Our Christmas Pyramids:

Formerly known for their vast deposits of tin and silver ore, The Ore Mountains, or Erzgebirge, have for the longest time been famous for their Christmas traditions and fine wood carvings, having produced fine hand carved ornaments and decorations in place of mining after the decline of the once plentiful deposits of tin and silver ore in the mountainous region. A fine example of the expert woodworking that would come to the region is the intricately beautiful Erzgebirge Christmas pyramid. 

The Erzgebirge Christmas pyramid, an odd looking Christmas ornament to those who have never before seen one, resembles several other traditional German Christmas ornaments of which have taken on the similar shape of a pyramid or cone. With so many similar German Christmas decorations, it is very easy to become confused for those who are not familiar with the many traditional ornaments used across Germany in the Advent period. The Lausitz Pyramidenleuchter, a similarly shaped pyramid candle holder, the Thuringia Reifenbäumchen, a hooped tree shaped decoration, and the Bavarian Klausenbaum, a pyramid of apples, candles, and wooden rods, are all similar with the exception that the Erzgebirge Pyramid is a mechanical device driven by the heat given off by a series of candles surrounding the base.

Originally home crafted by imaginative woodworking craftsmen in the Ore Mountains, former miners and those left after the ore deposits had declined, the Erzgebirge pyramid s are driven by a set of candles that give off heat, rotating the large spinner on the top of the pyramid that reassembles a propeller or windmill. While giving off a warm ambient Christmas glow, the pyramid's inner circles slowly begin to rotate around a central drive shaft, with leveled scenes of varying theme being portrayed with fine hand carved figurines throughout the pyramid.

With little to no recorded information pertaining to the Erzgebirge Christmas pyramids prior to the middle of the nineteenth century and decline of the region as a mining center, the original works are assumed to have been crafted in the families of toy makers, who's men had been inspired by the movements of the horse-whims from the many mines of the region. The vast majority of known Christmas Pyramids are indeed more modern works, with many not having been made until recently during the twentieth century, the Seiffen Museum, the leading authority on Christmas Pyramids's collection is no exception.

One of the interesting aspects of the Erzgebirge Christmas Pyramid is the fact that up until the early twentieth century, each of these was a unique family possession. Prior to their manufacturing on a commercial basis, starting in the first decade of the twentieth century, each pyramid would range from being a simple piece of work to entertain children to being a fully intricate family centerpiece, featuring complex in-carvings and geometric patterns from the base of the work to the top propeller. If one was to visit Erzgebirge today, the influence of the Christmas Pyramid among other traditions can still be seen, and will continue.

One of the very early and unusual articles to come out of the Erzgebirge is the Christmas pyramid. It is not known exactly when the first pyramid was made but it is estimated that it was around 300 years ago. In the year of 1716, a Protestant minister in the area named Melzer, wrote “Vain youth, loving all kinds of light have erected pyramids.  The first pyramids were very simple, often times just sticks tied together at the top and decorated with bright and gay materials. To maintain an upright position, the sticks had to be tied in such way that the base was broader than the top, hence, the pyramid shape, and the reason for giving them their name – pyramid.of old with lots of candles”.

In time flat and round platforms were developed and a center shaft was put through the platforms. Thus, the platforms could rotate. Ultimately, wings or blades were attached at the top and candles fitted to various parts of the pyramid. When the candles were lighted the heat would move the wing blades and thus rotate or propel the whole structure.
 
 The combination of heat and light were the prominent feature of the pyramid – in contrast to the cold dampness and darkness of the mines, the people in this area had worked in for centuries. Once the basic style of the pyramid evolved, variations were made.
In every sense, each pyramid is a collector’s article. There is an immense amount of handwork in each pyramid and the constantly diminishing number of skilled workers who make these pyramids is a portent that in the years ahead there will be a steadily decreasing supply. Thus, every pyramid is a special treasure and an heirloom to be enjoyed in the future.

People who have pyramids have a special joy in using them in the Christmas season.

Variations of Christmas Pyramids:

Some of them are grand and spectacular. Some have many platforms containing many, many different figures. These pyramids were often five to ten feet high. Today, they are usually 8” to 30” inches tall and the most frequent motif on the platforms is the nativity scene, where one can find Mary, Joseph and the infant usually in the most prominent part of the pyramid. As it rotates, there are usually shepherd following the Holy Family. Another platform may contain the Kings bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. At the top of the pyramids one can often find trumpeters announcing the good news of the birth of the Christ Child with their fanfares.

Pyramids also are made with other scenes than the nativity scene. Popular motifs are fairy tales, Santa Claus, forest workers, hunters and other figures native to the culture of the area. One figure that is frequently found on a pyramid is special to the Erzgebirge and is called “Stuelpner Karl” and represents a kind of Robin Hood of the area. He is a legendary figure who stole and poached, but of course, traditionally, the spoils were always given to the needy.