How The Wolf In Four-Poster Bed Is Made

Wendt & Kühn Collection from Jordanwood

Marvel at how 22 individual components come together to produce the wolf
lying in grandmother's richly decorated four-poster bed

The first step is to glue together all five sides of the bed. Next glue
is applied to the delicate wooden ornamentation using a fine brush.

Now the decorative border is carefully attached
to the top of the four-poster bed.

Then the wolf lying in the bed is assembled: first the bedspread, then
the feather pillow. A template helps to ensure everything is in the right place.

Before the wolf is given his big ears "to hear Red Riding Hood better",
they are sanded smooth with very fine sandpaper.

The ears are fixed to his head with care,
so that the big bad wolf can listen intently.

Now the head of the wolf is
placed on the pillow.

When all the pieces have been glued together, the figurine is immersed headfirst in a
bath of primer. The first two times in white paint to give the wolf a uniform coating.

And finally in cream colored paint to give a beautiful sheen and prepare him for subsequent painting.
After each dipping, the excess paint is spun away with a quick twisting motion - like using a whisk.

While the wolf is having his "bath", his four-poster bed is painted by hand - brushstroke by
brushstroke. First on all sides in pale green translucent paint, followed by the bedposts in teal.

The paint is then left to dry
for about two days.

When it is dry a fine paintbrush is used to paint
delicate pink flowers on the bed frame.

The flower heads are then embellished
with stems and green leaves.

The delicate floral pattern is repeated inside
the hearts on each end of the bed.

Using a very fine paintbrush the
ultra-thin stems are applied.

Where would a flower be without any leaves? There would be something
missing - and so twenty tiny leaves are added to the design.

A trained eye and a steady hand are required to
paint the pattern on the bedspread, line by line.

A total of 51 lines in all make up the pale blue
checkered pattern on the bedspread and pillow.

In Germany there is a children's rhyme: "dot, dot, comma, dash - a smiley face in a flash!" and so it
is with our wolf's not so smiley face. A steady hand adds the final dot that makes the black pupil in his eye.

Once the wolf and his four-poster bed have been painted, they are finally
put together. Now the wolf is ready for his great performance in grandmother's house.

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