Beautiful & useful things made of wood
I suspect you haven't heard of the Competence Center for Wood Origins. Well, I have a head start there. Although I must admit that I, too, went through life clueless about it for decades. However, my visit for the LÜBECK ZWISCHENZEILEN to Siegfried Kesting 's specialist shop, Holzereien, at Fleischhauerstraße 26, motivated me to do extensive research on the subject of wood.
Now I know, for example, that there are around 25,000 types of wood worldwide and that up to 800 of them are traded internationally. That beech, oak, alder, and ash, as well as cherry and walnut, are very well suited for furniture making. That mahogany is on the list of endangered wood species. And that vessels and dishes were already being carved from wood in the Paleolithic era. In conversation with Siegfried Kesting, I took a brief tour through the eras and trends of wood's use in everyday life.
Just come along for a bit…
Wood evokes emotions
People are drawn to trees, enjoying the scent of fresh wood on walks in local forests and admiring tree species unknown in our latitudes while on vacation. Even processed wood invites touch. The unique feel of an olive wood bowl or a cypress wood bracelet soothes the senses. I immediately sense this in the lovingly designed shop with its solid wood counter. I would love to handle every single product. The owner of the woodworking shop is already familiar with this and lets me, before revealing his connection to Lübeck and how his passion project has developed.
From Stuttgart to Lübeck
That Siegfried Kesting would one day move to Lübeck was initially unforeseeable. He was born in the brick-making town of Lage in the beautiful Lippe region. Siegfried Kesting's family on his mother's side came from Danzig. They settled in Lübeck after the war. His father had come to Lübeck for his training. His parents fell in love at a dance in the "Moislinger Baum" inn, married in St. Giles' Church, and moved together to Westphalia. However, they regularly traveled to Lübeck for holidays and family celebrations, maintaining contact with aunts, uncles, and cousins.
After graduating from high school, young Siegfried decided to train as a timber merchant. It seemed like a natural choice, as wood had always surrounded him: his grandfather was a master carpenter and his father a trained timber trader. However, Siegfried Kesting didn't remain a timber merchant for long. He furthered his career, becoming a software specialist in the timber and building materials trade, and settled in Stuttgart. There, he ran a stationery shop until 2017. And then it was time for a change of direction. He could have gone anywhere.
Siegfried Kesting deliberately chose Lübeck, a haven of fresh air, as he puts it. He opted for the wide-open North German skies and a less hectic environment. He had considered opening a stationery shop in Lübeck, but quickly abandoned the idea. He discovered that Lübeck already had no shortage of well-stocked stationery stores. A new concept was needed. Through numerous conversations with his partner, the idea of returning to his professional roots crystallized. Siegfried Kesting's woodworking business was born.
The shop at Fleischhauerstraße 26 was a serendipitous find. The ground-floor premises offer the woodworkers an almost ideal home, not least because of the wooden beam ceiling . It's an impressive coffered ceiling with an ochre-colored background and red and black or blue Moorish fretwork as its central motif. I really enjoy unexpectedly encountering such impressive relics of the past in the old town and feeling a connection across centuries with people who have left their mark on Lübeck.
The name says it all
"Look, there are all sorts of things made of wood in there!" Siegfried Kesting often hears this from people who stop in front of his shop window and look at the display. It's not exactly surprising that a shop called Holzereien (Woodworking Shops) sells products made of wood. Nevertheless, many customers are delighted that their expectations are met, and even exceeded, upon entering the shop. The shop is unique in Germany. Very often, Siegfried Kesting can make people who ask for a specific wooden product happy with a simple, "Yes, we have that!"
I head straight for the Seiffen bobbleheads . A bobblehead zebra, which my father played with as a child, sits on a shelf at my house. The cheerful, colorful bobbleheads of today are, of course, much more suitable for children's hands than those from the 1930s. For people who love children, the shop is truly a little paradise. Building blocks and spinning tops, mobiles and wooden toys, marble runs and wooden cars. Figurines and toolboxes, birthday trains and wooden height charts all catch the eye.
The selection also includes many items that will make adults' hearts beat faster. Useful things like brushes and shaving brushes. And beautiful things for people who already have everything, such as table clocks, elegant writing instruments, and decorative items. A particularly popular gift, by the way, is a wooden smartphone holder. It's kind of crazy how these two worlds collide. I'm particularly taken with the cutting boards with their expressive grain and the honey dipper that fits so perfectly in the hand.
One-man show
Sometimes customers ask if he made all these products himself. Siegfried Kesting, who describes himself as having no crafting skills, unfortunately has to disappoint them. The products come from sources in Germany and Europe. As the product range has expanded, so has the circle of suppliers. Some are even from the Lübeck region. Only products of high quality and made from certified materials are included in the assortment.
Siegfried Kesting exudes calm and composure, allowing visitors to look around, marvel, and browse. Upon request, he offers expert advice based on his extensive knowledge of wood and its care, and recommends relevant literature. He simply likes people who like wood. It's that simple. And he appreciates the warm atmosphere his shop radiates. "We have a lovely place here." Nothing more needs to be said.
