Original Vintage Nils Olsson Dala Horse: Swedish Wooden Folk Art Animal

This very colorful hand carved and hand painted horse was made under the brand name Nils Olsson in Sweden. It has bright decorations, painted on an orange-red base color. I am not sure about the age of this particular horse, it does have some wear and scratches, my guess is it was made around the '80s. Nils Olsson (1913–1991) was a legendary Swedish woodcarver and entrepreneur who co-founded Nils Olsson Dalahästar (Nils Olsson Hemslöjd) in 1928. Alongside his brother Jannes, he helped transform the traditional Dala horse from a local village pastime into a globally recognized symbol of Sweden. The big breakthrough for Swedish Dala horses came at the 1939 New York World's Fair. A giant painted Dala horse stood outside the Swedish pavilion, instantly turning the local craft into an international icon. The Nils Olsson Workshop continues to operate in Nusnäs alongside their historic rivals and relatives, Grannas A. Olsson (founded in 1922). NOTE: the horse has some small scratches in the paint coat and the front of its ears has damage (the paint is definitely gone here), please see the photos for details. Height: 5.50 inch / 14 centimeter. Width: 1.57 inch / 4 centimeter. Length: 4.72 inch / 12 centimeter.