In 1969 while visiting Switzerland, my mother introduced us to a friend of hers. This lady was very old and she invited us to her place for a meal because she wanted a chance to talk English. She had these carved farm figures which she inherited from her mother who had them since she was a child, so I guess they would have been carved ca 1820.
Diane commented how beautiful they were. A few days before we left for Australia again, the lady called with a plastic bag and insisted we have them, since she didn't have any children herself. We were thrilled and have taken care of them ever since.
A set of milking cows
The farmer and his dog
Of course some pigs
and some chickens
