About us
Our Story: From Podkrkonoší to the Whole World
The story of AMADEA began in 2002 in Podkrkonoší—when two friends decided to start a company. And, as with many good things, chance, curiosity, and the desire to do things differently played the main role for us too.
We started in a basement
At first we wanted to focus on advertising, but at a technology trade fair in Nuremberg we were captivated by a then brand-new way of working with wood—laser engraving and cutting. We brought the laser home and started literally in a basement. We tried, tested, learned from our own mistakes—and quickly realized that wood is a material that makes sense to us. Small laser-cut wooden ornaments became the very first step on our journey.
From ornaments to 70 000 different wooden products
We were among the first in Europe to use this technology industrially for producing wooden decorations. From small ornaments we gradually built a wide range of wooden products, and today AMADEA offers approximately 70 000 active wooden products—from decorations and gifts to home and fashion accessories, kitchen, dining and grilling items, crates, planters and flower pots, and our best-known range: wooden nativity scenes.
It’s not just about Christmas: alongside ornaments and decorations, we also create lamps, handbags, wooden tableware, jewelry, and tourist souvenirs. And when Covid arrived and people spent more time at home and in their gardens, we began making wooden flower planters—and they’ve remained in our range ever since.
Nativity scenes made with patience and heart
Nativity scenes made with patience and heart are now a symbol of our work. Today we are the largest manufacturer of wooden nativity scenes in Europe, producing several hundred variants and delivering them not only across the Czech Republic but also to Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovakia, and many other countries worldwide—from Latin America to Japan and Australia.
Honest handmade craftsmanship
Making nativity scenes is close to our hearts. An average, moderately complex nativity scene without figurines takes about eight hours of honest handwork, usually from spruce wood. Every piece passes through the hands of people who devote maximum care and an eye for detail.
Nativity scenes are also made in a protected workshop, where colleagues with health disabilities produce them entirely from prepared materials. They do the most precise work and have a patience the rest of us often lose after just a few steps.
It wouldn’t work without skilled hands
Modern technology matters, but it isn’t enough on its own. At AMADEA we know that true quality comes from combining technology with human craftsmanship. In our workshops in Lázně Bělohrad, Ostroměř and Bílá Třemešná we work today with many skilled people—without them, our story could never have been written.
Step by step into the world
We didn’t grow overnight—we grew steadily, step by step. For many years we fine-tuned technology, materials, and finishing details, and quality remains our top priority to this day. International trade fairs also played a major role, especially Christmasworld in Frankfurt, where we built partnerships with customers from all over the world. Later, we added our own stores in Prague and Český Krumlov, often discovered by international visitors. Many of them then want to take a piece of AMADEA back home. And so it happens that a nativity scene bought at Christmas markets in Dresden, Vienna, or Nuremberg has its origin right here—in Podkrkonoší.
Created for joy
Our motto “Created for joy” reflects not only the joy of our customers, but also the meaning of work for those who create our products. We don’t have a guaranteed recipe for success—we simply believe in honest work, respect for the material, and joy in making. And if we had to give one final piece of advice: in the pre-Christmas rush, treat yourself to a moment of calm. Maybe with a nativity scene. Because nothing soothes the soul quite like small wooden stories that return home year after year.
AMADEA
I founded AMADEA—Martin Portych—together with my friend Láďa Šádek.
In 2002 we started in a basement with one laser, plenty of ideas, and the desire to do things honestly and differently. Today, in Podkrkonoší, we create wooden products that travel to homes all over the world.
Although my and Láďa’s paths have diverged, I still believe the same thing—that quality work, respect for the material, and joy in making are the best foundation.
What matters to us
We manufacture ourselves in our workshops in Podkrkonoší, with respect for tradition and craftsmanship.
Honesty, detail, and human hands are key for us.
We provide jobs for people with disabilities.
Refined processes, quality local wood, and inspection of every single piece.
We think about the impact on nature and the future. “Czech wood, Czech hands. We believe things shouldn’t travel halfway around the world in containers. That’s why we produce locally, from sustainable sources, and with respect for the material. Amadea isn’t just a brand—it’s a promise of honest craftsmanship.”
We believe wood has a soul and products carry emotion.
Take a look inside our AMADEA production
A short montage from our production shows how wooden products are made here—from technology to honest handwork and careful detail inspection.