If you are not familiar with the exquisite collection of Christian Ulbricht smokers and nutcrackers, you are truly in for a pleasant surprise. Somewhat less known in the United States than other German woodworking companies, (but enormously beloved in Germany) Christian Ulbricht is a family company in Germany that has been in existence for over 80 years. All Ulbricht ancestors were miners in the Erzgebrige (Ore Mountains) of Germany. The area was rich with large deposits of silver, but when the mines dwindled, the miners needed to come up with a new source of income. In 1928 Christian Ulbricht��™s father, Otto, established the family company in Seiffen in the Erzgebirge. With the onset of WWII, he fled to the west and set up the family business in Lauinger on the Danube which has been run by his son, Christian Ubricht since 1968 and continues to this day. After the reunification of Germany, Christian Ulbricht was able to buy back his family's company in Seiffen. Treat yourself to an exquisitely created (by hand!) Christian Ulbricht smoker, nutcracker or pyramid and start a family tradition with these beautifully made heirlooms of the future!