From miners to woodturners — the roots of an extraordinary family

The history of the climbing figure doesn't begin with the figure itself, but with a family that had to reinvent itself. When tin mining in the Erzgebirge came to a halt, the ancestors of the Ulbricht family were forced to find other sources of income. Thus, in 1771, Samuel Gottlob Ulbricht became the family's first woodturner — until then, the Ulbrichts had been miners, deeply rooted in the rugged world of the Erzgebirge.

What began as a makeshift solution became a calling. Seiffen — the small toy village in the Saxon Erzgebirge — had developed into one of the most important centers of carving and woodturning since the 19th century. The Ulbricht family was right in the middle of it.

Around 1880, August Hermann Ulbricht produced the first "Seiffener Reiterlein" — filigree wooden figures that were carried all over the world by traders. After the First World War, his son Ewald Ulbricht produced chalked and painted roller riders and various riding games. Generation after generation, the family refined their craft — laying the foundation for an invention that would one day amaze the world.

The Birth of a Legend

Klaus Ulbricht, who managed the family business until 2000, mainly produced a completely new type of wooden figure in addition to miner's orchestras — the climbing figure. More than 65 years ago, the first climbing figure was created in the family, and since then, the assortment has been continuously developed.

What at first glance seems like a simple play idea is full of craftsmanship and ingenuity. The figures are intricately attached in the middle of a thread and can climb up the rope by repeatedly pulling the two ends of the cord apart. The ends of the cord are equipped with a loop and a wooden ball, which prevent the figure from climbing too far.

Chimney sweep, Santa Claus, sailor, clown, climbing monkey — the motifs followed over the years. Each new figure was a new small masterpiece of mechanics: only 6.5 cm tall, weighing about 5 grams, yet capable of moving an entire world.

The ingenious secret — How the magic works

A gentle pull on the small wooden ball — and the figure climbs up the rope. This principle sounds simple, but it is the result of years of craftsmanship and precision.

The entire mechanism is hidden inside the tiny 6.5 cm figure. No electricity, no batteries, no electronics — just wood, a thread, and a functional principle that has been mastered in no other workshop in the world except Seiffen for over 65 years.

Each climbing figure is produced entirely in-house: turned, painted, and assembled by hand. The threads are precisely set, the balls are turned, and the figures are then delicately painted in color — a process that requires patience and experience accumulated over generations.

Plagiarism — and why the original always wins

The success of the climbing figure, of course, did not go unnoticed. As with many things, there were also plagiarized versions of the climbing figures on the market in the past — produced more cheaply, less carefully crafted, and made from materials that could not hold a candle to the original.

But the plagiarized versions disappeared as quickly as they appeared. They never achieved the quality of the original. The reason is obvious: The functional principle of the climbing figure is the result of generations of craftsmanship — it cannot simply be copied.

Today — Peter Ulbricht and the living heritage

For five generations, Manufaktur Ulbricht has been producing traditional Seiffen figures and the world-famous climbing figures. Today, Peter Ulbricht, as a state-certified master craftsman and member of the Chamber of Crafts, runs the business — together with his wife Katrin Ulbricht. The company carries the quality seal "Echt erzgebirgische Handarbeit" (Genuine Erzgebirge Handicraft) — a promise of quality that can be seen, felt, and heard.

The assortment has grown over the decades: mountaineers, chimney sweeps, sailors, clowns, monkeys, cats, rabbits, Santa Clauses — over 25 different motifs now climb from the small workshop in Seiffen to all corners of the world. To Japan, the USA, Australia, and throughout Europe.

A pull on the small ball — and the figure climbs up the rope. For over 65 years, this moment has fascinated children and adults alike.