Danish Walnut Bear Family Ornament

Danish workshops have been turning small wooden animals since the middle of the last century, and the form has barely changed because it did not need to. The appeal is in the restraint: a body reduced to two or three curves, a face suggested by the smallest possible detail, and the grain of the wood left to do most of the work. This bear family follows that tradition closely.

It is made from walnut with beech accents on the ears, muzzle and paws, so the lighter wood picks out exactly the features that the carving leaves implied. The contrast is subtle in daylight and stronger under a lamp. A small tail detail at the back is the kind of thing you only notice on the second look, which is characteristic of the genre.

The piece measures 6 x 6.5 x 12cm, small enough for a shelf edge, a windowsill or a desk, and it has the pleasing density that solid hardwood always has in the hand. Because it is natural timber, the grain and colour will vary from piece to piece — no two are identical, and that is the point. Dust with a soft dry cloth and keep it away from radiators and direct sunlight, both of which will dry the wood out over time. Keep it out of reach of small children.

• Carved bear family ornament in solid walnut with beech accents
• Dimensions 6 x 6.5 x 12cm
• Natural timber - grain and colour vary from piece to piece
• Danish mid-century tradition of turned and carved wooden animals
• Dust with a soft dry cloth; do not soak or use solvents
• Keep away from radiators and prolonged direct sunlight
• Decorative object, not a toy - keep out of reach of small children