Angel Leonardo With Lyre

The roots of PEMA date back to nineteenth century Italy with two masters of sculpture and painting. At that time, the sculptor Johann Dominik Mahlknecht (1793-1876) became one of the most important carvers in Val Gardena, while Luis Mahlknecht (Bera Luis da Rainell, 1910-2000) later revolutionized the woodcarving-painting technique when he first used oil colors to decorate the figurines. Today, PEMA continues to be guided by one principle: to carve contemporary works of art that can respond to the wishes of all woodcarving enthusiasts without ever forgetting their roots and tradition.