Matthäus Mayrhauser has a speciality: he carves life-size saints with “real” facial features. His Salzkammergut crib has already grown to 80 figures.
Even as a small boy, Matthäus Mayrhauser, who lives in Abersee/Strobl, was fascinated by carved animals and figures. This clearly marked his life path: “I took a carving course as a teenager and then started an apprenticeship as a wood sculptor in Hof near Salzburg.” Since then he has never put the carving tools out of his hands. The master loves wood: “I use a lot of spruce and lime, but also stone pine, oak, fruit trees.” A Christ has just finished: “They brought me an old pear tree, I carved the Lord God out of it. He comes on a weather cross that will stand where the tree was.” He prefers naturalistic, distinctive faces. He says: “I’m already a believer and would like to create a good expression with the saints.” He made a life-size shepherd boy based on a photo: “The son of the client.” Wolfgangsee Advent can be seen. It has grown to more than 80 life-size figures, this year the Three Wise Men were added. But Mayrhauser has nothing against mundane commissions either, he makes celebrity portraits as well as eye-catching figures for a garden.
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