During the festive season, Wilhelmsson's workshop continues its longstanding family tradition by crafting the iconic ‘Staffansbågen’, the light ornament that adorns Swedish homes with its magical glow
Every year, from September to Christmas, Wilhelmsson’s wood and metal workshop – located in the small village of Idbäck, just outside of Malung – springs to life to produce the original ‘Staffansbågen’: a curved light fixture found illuminating mid-winter windows of most Swedish homes during the holiday season. Candles reach tall from arches nestled on windowsills, housing a parade of Christmas characters: Staffan Stalledräng and his five horses.
Staffansbågen has always been a family affair. “I'm not sure if you can really call it a family business as such, maybe more of a family tradition when it comes to the Staffansbågen,” says Tomas Wilhemsson. The first piece, made by Annika Wilhelm Larsson as a gift for his eldest son, Ingemar, on his sixth birthday, was carved in 1951.
I've put in as much as possible to produce a durable product that I can truly be proud of, and that should preferably last for several generations.
Tomas Wilhemsson
Based on a modified pattern found in Aller magazine, Wilhelm’s original arch saw wooden figures on parade graced by real candles, a contrast to the modern electric versions. For many years following Wilhelm’s retirement, Per-Olof, affectionately known as PO, took over sawing, sanding, painting, and assembling the figures. Today, it is Tomas who helms the business, with the family and their helpers often working until 8pm or 9pm at night.
Creating an arch takes a lot of work, about four to five hours on average. Each figure and frame must be intricately cut using a scroll saw before they’re painted. “I've put in as much as possible to produce a durable product that I can truly be proud of, and that should preferably last for several generations, just like the old Staffansbågen,” says Tomas. The family offers repairs of old Staffansbågar, including replacing the light strip or light stand and exchanging broken figures. “We still get quite a few repairs on them,” he says. “Some of which go all the way back to my grandfather's arches."