SUNDAY MEMORIES
Judy Wills
In addition to our wonderful experience at The Passion Play 1970 in Oberammergau, Germany, we had other times to visit that lovely town. On some of our trips around Germany, we visited the town and introduced our daughters to it.
Someone told us about a Master Woodcarver in Oberammergau, and insisted that we visit his house/workshop. Fred was chosen to attend a NATO school in Oberammergau. So we hired a single friend to stay with the girls, and I went with Fred to the school. Again, we stayed in a B&B, and I was able to explore the town while he was in classes at the school.
English: The welcome sign to NATO school in Oberammergau, Germany. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
As I explored, I found the house of the Master Woodcarver. His wife seemed pleased to have me invite myself to their house, and took me to his workshop, where he was working on one of his creations. To say I was entralled would be an understatement, for sure. He could carry on a complete conversation and continue to carve at the same time – without missing a beat!
They showed me samples of his work – different sizes and different themes. They told me that the tourist shops in town had offered him exorbitant commissions, if he would just allow them to sell his craft/product in their stores. He rejected them all. The only time he allowed his product to be in their stores what when he was carving a very large (sometimes life-size) piece, and needed their large machine to work a particular piece. Their bargaining chip was – “you can use our equipment, but we get to sell (blank) number of your works in the store.”
I was in love. I purchased two pieces of his art,and have enjoyed them all these years since
. In later years, when my Mother came for a visit, we took her to Oberammergau, and to the carver’s house. She purchased another one – a “happy” monk with a bier stein in his hand. They told us that, the larger the size of the monk, the “happier” he appeared! I was given that piece when she passed away
We had dinner in the NATO Club several evenings while on that trip. While looking around the shop within the Club, I found a wood carving of an eagle – one of my favorite creatures. And guess who the artisan was!! That’s right – my favorite Master Woodcarver! It is now hanging on my wall!
When my best friend came to visit from Panama City, Florida, we took her to Oberammergau, and – of course! – to the woodcarvers house. The lady of the house told us that he had been commissioned to do two lfe-sized pieces for a Catholic Church in Panama City! The next time I visited her, we went to that church to see the figurines. They were magnificent!
So many items we were able to purchase while in Europe, to remind us of our times there, and the places we visited. But these wood carvings are some of our most favorite pieces and memories.
Old Things R New 