Heimarbeit - carving and woodturning

Essential for making a living

On a hill slightly above the Altmünster village of Neukirchen stands the Rabenwies, a house built in the typical architectural style of the Viechtau. It illustrates the life of the population around a hundred years ago. One focal point is Heimarbeit - carving and woodturning - which was essential for earning a living in those days.

Viechtau became famous for its wooden goods, especially toys. Viechtau wooden goods found their way all over the monarchy and beyond. In their heyday, the carvers, turners and clog makers of Viechtau exported their wooden household goods and coveted toys as far afield as Russia, Romania and Turkey. Since the 14th century, the carvers had marketed their spoons and docks (painted wooden dolls) themselves as peddlers, and later agents opened up international markets.

In 1881, there was even a woodcarving school in Viechtau - as the locals called the village - with three subjects: Woodturning, sculpture and carpentry. Despite initial success, the school was closed again in 1894. In 1911, the Viechtau cottage industry organised itself into the Cooperative of Producers of Rural Craftsmanship. However, the onset of automation in the woodturning industry meant that the craftsmanship faced such powerful competition that the production association was dissolved in 1979. The local history museum with its important collection of Viechtau goods has existed since 1975.