Volker & Heiko Flath

One of the oldest wood craft enterprises in the Erzgebirge is the company Volker and Heiko Flath - Erzgebirgische Volkskunst. The Flath family keeps up its tradition with the production of horse-drawn vehicles or tire animals already in the fifth generation. For over 50 years they have also been creating their wonderful Christmas pyramids.

Karl August Flath was the last Seiffen miner in the 19th century. His daughter-in-law Marie Flath began producing the Seiffen miniature carriages in 1905 which her son Arthur developed further from 1919. His son Günter Flath started with the construction of Christmas carousels in the 1960s, and his son Volker soon joined the family business. Volker’s son, Heiko Flath, is co-owner today. They are all certified masters of their trade.

Flath Christmas Pyramids

The pyramids of the Flath family are powered by real candles, which drive the large impeller with their warmth and set the figures in their natural wood colour or shiny lacquer in motion. One of the most precious pieces of the Volker & Heiko Flath workshops is the four-tier pyramid "Nativity scene with musical mechanism", which is available in two sizes and versions. The smaller one painted white with green fences and red candlesticks, offering a colourful yet elegant and festive look. The bigger one is made in natural wood colours with cheerfully painted figures. The pedestal also contains a 28-part Swiss precision musical mechanism, which can be used to provide musical accompaniment to the gentle rotation of the pyramid. The artists of the Flath family show the classical Christmas story with the Holy Family, shepherds and angels and the Holy Three Kings from the Orient in ever new arrangement and form.

Typical for the Flath Christmas pyramids are the white pyramid bodies and green fences but above all the small parts and the precision in the construction of the 35 to 52 centimetre high models. The figures are complexly constructed, and all the small parts of frame, figures and animals are cautiously painted and assembled by hand. The company Volker & Heiko Flath only uses certified wood from sustainable production. For the operation of the pyramids we recommend the quality candles from JEKA.