Christmas Fair Karlsruhe

Lovers of high-quality arts and crafts will find long-lasting quality and refreshing design at the Christmas Fair Karlsruhe. On two floors, 39 exhibitors present a varied spectrum of current works in the fields of jewelry and silverware, textiles, ceramics, wood, paper, leather and glass.

Stephanie Danjou from France is presenting stylish leather bags at the Christmas fair in Karlsruhe.

Most of the artisans belong to the Baden-Württemberg BdK or the joint umbrella organization BK, the German Federal Association for Arts and Crafts. Word of this high-quality trade fair has spread abroad as well: this year, exhibitors from Poland, France and Finland will be taking part.

New discoveries in clothing and accessories are guaranteed by the annual change in presentations – one-third of the exhibitors are first-time participants. Nada Quenzel from Berlin makes extravagant hats, while Stephanie Danjou from France offers elegant, handcrafted bags. Gabriele Franke from Heidelberg designs classic modern, timeless fashion.

Gabriele Franke’s unique fashion from Mannheim is anything but conventional. © Franke.

Ceramics lovers will find a wide mix of patterns, colors, and shapes in the work of five participants, from utility ceramics to free sculptural objects, raku, porcelain and stoneware.

Ceramic vase with an attractive graphic pattern by Mi Sook Hwang. Born in South Korea, she lives in the Palatinate after studying at the Freie Kunstschule Nürtingen. © Mi Sook Hwang.

Once again, there is a lot of jewelry: colorfully enameled, discreetly matted, geometrically angular or rather floral, classically dignified or daringly experimental. There are no limits to the variety of forms of expression and materials.

The Sun Star pendant will be shown in Karlsruhe by Monika Jakubec. Photo Jakubec.

There is also something new in wood: Andreas Dach combines found objects with turned objects. An old faucet becomes the turning handle of a wooden mill. Stefan Broszeit – fresh winner of the Baden-Württemberg State Prize 2024 – presents containers with charming wood inlays. Konrad Koppold’s large, multi-award-winning oak vessels inspire with their sculptural character.

Helix wooden vessel made of oak in sculpted quality by Konrad Koppold. Photo Koppold.

Stefan Broszeit calls this wooden box with inlays I burn (photo Lebherz).

Do young people no longer have an interest in arts and crafts as a career? Katharina Doll and Dominik Schmidt from Sasbachwalden refute this: “Particularly in an increasingly digitalized and hectic world, genuine craftsmanship using natural, regional raw materials is more important and valuable to us than ever,” they emphasize. Under the label “Holzkind” they make bowls, boards and other home accessories, but also custom-make individual pieces of furniture.

A brooch becomes a wearable sculpture. Susanne Högner from Karlsruhe shows it at the Christmas market in her hometown. Photo S. Högner.

The large textile group of works includes felted, woven and sewn items. Suse Seiz from Wiernsheim makes particularly complex carpets: woven with embroidery cord that she makes herself from industrial leftover yarns. There are also bookbinding and glass works, lampshades and cutlery. Look forward to your voyage of discovery!