Christian Ulbricht Nutcrackers Christian Ulbricht was born in Seiffen in 1933. His father, Otto, was a wood turner who had a factory which made nutcrackers and smokers and other wooden collectibles. After World War II, private industry was taken out of the hands of the individual, and controlled by the Communist regime. At that time, Otto moved his family across the border to West Germany and settled in Lauingen where he continued his wood-turning business. Christian took over the family business in 1968, and in 1978 developed a new company named Holzkunst Christian Ulbricht. After Germany was re-united, Christian was able to purchase the family factory in the Erzgebirge, which is now called Seiffen Nussknackerhaus. Now Ulbricht products are produced in both locations. While son Gunther remained in Lauingen, daughter Enis moved to Seiffen to manage the factory there. Christian himself will create samples on the lathe, and this becomes the pattern for the workers who handcraft the finished pieces. Gunther, an artist in his own right, has created many of the new designs. And Ines and mother Inge are also involved in the design of nutcrackers, smokers, music boxes, pyramids, and ornaments that are produced in both factories. Now well into the third generation, the Ulbricht family continues to produce wood turned products of the highest quality. With each piece, you can be assured you have a collectible made in the traditions of excellence for which the Ulbricht family is known in both locations.