Only the best slow and symmetrical grown wood species are suitable, such as maple, lime tree, alpine pine, ash tree and pear tree. Accurate drying is necessary so that the moisture content be reduced to the correct level. The process begins with the purchase of 80 year old maple or sycamore trees from plantations in France. The best and healthiest trees are selected and only about 20% of these meet the ANRI standards. The logs are then air dried for up to 3 years and cut into blocks, which are kiln dried to reduce the moisture to 10%. It is from this stock that the wood is sized for figures and placed in storage.

The first step in the carving process, cutting the contours, is mechanically aided. This helps to ensure that the figure is true to the model, and also prepares the work for the carver. With saw and shaper tools the woodblocks get the right proportion and appearance of the item they will be carved into. As this process is taking place, blocks of wood are roughly shaped to meet the requirements of that particular figure, then the special model is worked by hand to duplicate its form. From that stage, the figure is inspected and if approved goes into the hand finishing sculpture studio where details are completed.

With very careful, delicate manipulation of chisels and knives, the talented masters supervise every single cut, down to the tiniest detail.

After each figure goes through a process of sealing the wood, it travels to the hand painting studio. Here the painters carefully detail each figure with pastel shades of transparent oil paints so that the wood grain remains visible. The special ANRI transparent colors are used so that the beauty of the wood grain is revealed. 

ANRI history

It all began in the late 19th century when Alois Riffeser traveled to the major European cities to sell the wood carved figurines and toys which were bought from the farmers of the Gröden Valley located in the Dolomite region of the Alps. This area in South Tyrol was part of Austria-Hungary at the time until being annexed to Italy in 1919.

In 1912 Josef Anton Riffeser founded the ANRI Company, which he named using the first two letters of his first and last name. After World War I, where he was in a prisoner of war camp in Siberia, he formulated his plan for a woodcarving company. He created his own models which he distributed successfully, mainly in the Alpine region.

Josef’s wife, Carolina Riffeser ran the company during the difficult years of war and the absence of her husband. She was especially influential as her social positions were well accepted and gained the confidence of the home workers. 

When Anton Adolf Riffeser took over in 1945, he transformed the ANRI company, adopting a more industrial model which allowed for better quality control and distribution to new markets. He was followed by Ernst Riffeser who was able to enlist the services of many well known artists including Juan Ferràndiz, Sarah Kay and others. The ANRI company today is run by Thomas Riffeser, and still remains in the same family.

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·         Some items are new and so stated, other items are sold "AS IS" in pre-owned condition, unless otherwise stated in the description. We try our best to present an accurate description of the item, noting any imperfections or damages we may see. However, we are human and on occasion may inadvertently miss something. Please use the photos as a major part of the description, using the zoom feature.

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