Pyramides
and German Folk Art
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The birthplace of the pyramide is Erzgebirge in the state of Saxony,
Germany. Legend has it that long after the Christmas holiday season,
a man cut all the small branches and needles from his discarded Christmas
tree. He then hung the tree over the fireplace for a rack to hang his
wet clothing. He observed that the heat from the fireplace would rotate
the tree. It was from this observation he built the first pyramide. |
Big pyramide in |
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This is the smallest pyramide I have made to date,
and it really works. Small birthday candles are used
Micro Pyrimide |
The pyramide to the right is 28" tall, and a
favorite design of my uncle Paul's. He gave me the plans when I visited
him in Germany in 1983. The theme is a Christmas theme. This pyramide
has three revolving tables with singing and trumpeting angels. This
pyramide was cut with the Laser.
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Heinz's Pyramide #1
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The pyramide to the left is
28 inches in height and a design that was conceived by Heinz Hubrig,
a neighbor who lives down the street from my Uncle Paul. I was given
the plans & the lathe-turned columns. This pyramide has two rotating
tables. The theme is a forest environment with trees and deer. The figurines
were bought in the region.
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The pyramide to the right is 28" tall, and was
given to me by Heinz Hubrig. Ths pyramide has two rotating tables. The
Nativity scene in the center is stationary, and the large table at the
bottom revolves thru the arches. I found this pyramide to be the most
unique of the pyramides I saw while on vacation in Germany. Needless
to point out, the theme of this pyramide is a Christmas theme. The lower
table has the Three Wise Men and a shepherd with his sheep. The upper
table has singing angels.
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Heinz's Pyramide #2
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 Jaeger Pyramide |
The pyramide to the left is
30 inches tall. The theme is a Jaeger (hunter) pyramide. There are three
rotating tables. The figurines that make up the theme are hunters, hounds,
deer, rabbits, and trees. This is one of many patented designs I bought
in Annaberg-Buchholz, Germany.
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The pyramide to the right is
12 inches high. The theme is Christmas, with the Nativity and Wise Men
with their gifts. I made this copy from one my parents bought in Erzgebirge
in 1958.
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 Nativity Pyramide |
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 Das Erzgebirge Pyramide |
This is the most complex pyramide I have made. The
pyramide stands 40 inches high and 22 inches at the base. All panels
on the two lower levels have different depictions of life in the Erzgebirge.
Therefore, the theme is the Erzgebirge Life and Folklore. This pyramide
was the most challenging project, and the most rewarding.
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The Theme of this pyramide is the Nativity. The lower
panel has cuts of Mary, the Baby Christ, and Joseph. On the revolving
table are shepherds, sheep, and singing angels. The pyramide is 30 inches
high and 20 inches at the base.
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 Nativity Pyramide |
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 Small Church Pyramide |
The Small Church pyramide is
the first pyramide I used a combination of 3 different woods: Redwood,
Maple and Douglas Fir. The contrast of these woods made a fine looking
pyramide. This pyramide was cut with the Laser.
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In the last few months of 2002, I undertook the project
to build a large yard Christmas pyramide. This picture shows the end
product. The pyramide is 11 feet high and 8 feet at the base. It is
a scaled up version of the 2nd Heinz Pyramide above. I installed an
electric motor to rotate the table at 10 revolutions per minute. It
was a neighbor attention-getter during the 2002 Christmas season.
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 Big Yard Pyramide |
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Schwibbogen
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Below are three favorite crafts of the Erzgebirge
in Germany. They are called Schwibbogen, or also known as Licherbogen.
I don't know the English translation for Schwibbogen, but the translation
for Licherbogen is "Light Arch". As it is with the pyramides,
these pieces are made in several themes. The ones I have on display
are, top Forest Environment, lower left Christmas Theme, and lower right
Life in the Erzgebirge.
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 Christmas Nativity Theme |
 Life in The Erzgebrige |
© Erick M. Lenk, 2004