HolzWald Stork

The stork is one of the taller figures in the range, carved with the long legs and upright neck that define a wading bird. Standing 11.4cm high it towers over the four-legged animals, which makes it a striking silhouette on a shelf. The narrow, elegant form reads clearly as a stork rather than a generic bird.

It is 11.4cm tall, 5.5cm long and 2.5cm wide. Because the legs are carved as one solid section joined to a flat base rather than separate spindles, the stork stands securely without tipping. The slim profile still gives a real sense of a long-legged bird poised at the water's edge.

The stork is a single carved piece with no set to complete, so children decide its story. It fits marsh, riverbank and pond scenes, wading among reeds made of blocks or cloth. Its height also makes it a natural 'tall bird' character in mixed scenes with shorter animals from the collection.

Storks are wetland birds, so it pairs naturally with frogs, fish and other water-edge creatures. Children often stand it beside a blue cloth 'pond' as the bird that fishes there. Its distinctive height lets it play the lookout or the visitor arriving at the water.

The workshop uses natural Biofa dyes that sink into the bare wood, then finishes the piece with a quality oil. This keeps the grain visible under the colour and gives a soft, matte surface. The dye wears gently with handling rather than flaking, which helps the slim legs and body stay looking clean.

Wipe it with a dry or lightly damp cloth and let it air dry. Keep it away from water and dishwashers, and store it out of long direct sunlight to protect the colour. Because it is tall and narrow, stand it somewhere it will not be knocked, and it will keep its poise.

It is made in a small Georgian workshop that has been carving wooden animals for over 35 years. Local wood is shaped, rounded and coloured entirely by hand. The workshop employs people from its community, including workers with disabilities, and each stork carries slight natural differences in grain.