Schwibbola candle arches

Candle arches are an integral part of the German Christmas tradition. Their romantic light adorns countless window sills - not only in the Erzgebirge (ore mountains) - at Christmas time. In the days of mining, the glowing candle arches were a symbol of the longing for the light and unscathed return from the mine shaft. The oldest known candle arch goes back to 1740! Most of the candle arches come from the world-famous “toy town” of Seiffen in the eastern Erzgebirge mountains. The small manufactory Schwibbola from Neuhausen in the beautiful valley of Flöha, not far from Seiffen, is one of the many workshops dedicated to the production of candle arches. Schwibbola candle arches are a delight to the eye with their exuberant richness of detail and versatile motifs.

Schwibbola's assortment includes candle arches in various sizes and with different motifs for the winter season. The filigree fretwork is mostly made of fine, natural birch plywood. On the base of profiled beech wood, romantic scenes are depicted with small, colorful figures, which give the picture a lively, playful character. Whether sled dogs, Christmas market or carolers, hardly any winter joy may be missing here. On the "Schwibbogen Winter in Seiffen", a mountain landscape is finely worked into the picture, which reaches up to the star-filled sky. Above the starry splendor fir trees decorate the arch, which are surrounded by a luminous glow due to the hidden electric candles. On the ground, children play in the snow between fir trees and in front of the Seiffen church, more children wait with hats, scarves and lanterns in their hands.
A very classic motif is found in the "candle arch angel and miner". The two main symbols of the Erzgebirge mining tradition stand in a protective dwelling, in whose skylight even a Schwibbogen has found its place. The two figures form the center of the arch, while luminous fir trees decorate the scenery above and below the starry sky.