In Nusnäs outside Mora, horses are carved mainly by private individuals who are supplied with sawn wood and a knife by the manufacturers, an official said. When the people have carved the horses, they are sold back and then the factory finishes, paints, and completes the horses, the official added. Marta Jonatowska works at a preschool and carves horses on the side for several factories in Nusnäs, according to an official.
According to SVT Nyheter, Marta Jonatowska described her carving as an extra source of income. Only at the manufacturer Grannas, approximately 70,000 Dala horses are sold annually, an official reported. The Grannas factory today has approximately 20 home carvers, the official said.
We sell all the horses that are made.
According to SVT Nyheter, Natalia Lindberg described strong sales, while Johan Kriga emphasized the Dala horse's enduring symbol but noted production challenges without home carvers to meet international market demand. It is unclear how many Dala horse manufacturers operate in Nusnäs besides Grannas, what specific recruitment strategies are being used, or how demand has changed in recent years.
I do it as an extra source of income.
The Dala horse as a symbol will not disappear, but there would be no chance to have production on a scale to satisfy the market, which is also international.