Originally from East Prussia (now Russia), Hans was trained as a blacksmith and as a young man was employed as a welder. Upon his arrival in the United States he studied engineering in night school and traveled all over the U.S. as a project engineer. Hans took up woodworking because "it's lighter than iron work," he says with a smile. He learned wood turning at Arrowmount and honed his craft on Missouri's abundant hardwoods.

Hans was one of our very first Bluestem artists and he remains one of our favorites. His Missouri-shaped cutting boards have been sent or carried in luggage to every corner of the world!