German toymaking traditions are best known for handcrafted and finely decorated miniature Christmas representations. The Nutcracker, Advent Pyramids and Smokers were carved and decorated in small German homes and shops and were sold across the globe. They still play a pivotal role in the Christmas celebration worldwide. They're more than just holiday ornaments, these traditions developed the woodcarving trade that Germany would be come to be known for. In this course you are introduced to three wood carving traditions that define toymaking: flat-plane figure carving, shaved woodcarving and lathe turning. The result is a colorful Santa and Sleigh mantelpiece with a candleholder that embodies these long-standing wood-carving traditions.