The Design Tourist Meets the Christmas Artisans of Thuringia, Germany

The Design Tourist, Karen LeBlanc, travels to Germany deep into the Thuringian Forest. to meet with makers creating world-famous mouth-blown glass Christmas decorations and collectible paper mache figurines. Visit the village of Steinach and meet with the owners of Marolin, makers of handmade paper mache figurines. Richard Mahr founded Marolin in 1900, naming the company after a secret paper mache recipe he invented. Marolin remains in the family and operates as a factory, museum, and shop on the site of Mahr’s original family home.

Next, visit the village of Lauscha where for centuries, artisans have created mouth-blown, and hand-painted glass ornaments. It’s a tradition recognized by the nationwide register of intangible UNESCO cultural heritage.

Keywords: Travel, Germany, The Design Tourist, Travel Show, Artisans, Craft, Germany Travel, Germany Tourism, German Craftsmanship