| FJORDING HORSE CARVING | |
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FJORDING HORSE The distinctive hand carved Fjording horse is known around the world and was created by the Henning Studio in Norway. 6" high Norwegian nature, folklore and mythology have always inspired Norwegian artists to make pictures and sculptures that are so specifically Norwegian that nobody can doubt their origin. The wood carver Henning Engelsen must be reckoned among these artists. Each of his figures has its own character and expresses parts of Norwegian soul and spirit. Henning Engelsen (born in 1918) started his career in 1947 in a small workshop at Toten. Ever since the beginning, his ideas has been to create a world of figures that radiate joy and humanity and inspire us to go up above the ordinary. Once upon a time . . . . |
| PRILLARGURI AND HARDANGER FIDDLER | |
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FIGURINES DEPICTING COUNTRYSIDE PEOPLE The master wood carvers of the Henning studio created these bunad clad figures of a Prillarguri and a Hardanger Fiddler. Two sizes: 6.75" and 12" tall. |
ODIN
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TOR
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THE VIKINGS In Norwegian history the Viking age is the years between 800 and 1030 a.d. The Vikings were warriors and considered dangerous. In their well shaped ships they sailed to England and France where the people were exposed to their villainy. The Viking Leir Eiriksson discovered America and called it Vinland. Nevertheless the Vikings had their gods. The highest of which was ODIN. He was very intelligent and had only one eye. He had two helpers, the ravens Hugin and Munin (Thought and Memory), who every day flew about gathering information to report to Odin. TOR was next to Odin in rank. He protected people against natural forces. He had a wagon drawn by two he-goats. When crossing the sky, it would cause thunder. Tor had a hammer called Mjolne. This hammer always hit the target and returned automatically. At the end of the Viking age Norway was converted to Christianity, and the people started to build churches. They were called "stave churches." |
| BERSERK | |
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BERSERK VIKING WARRIOR The saga tells us that "Berserkers" were wild Viking warriors. As clothing, they used bear-skins, and they believed they could transform themselves into bears and assimilate the animal's power — thus the name Berserk. In battle they went wild; they tore at their shields with their teeth and howled like dogs.
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| NORWEGIAN TROLL CARVINGS | ||
LARGER VIEW Troll #111 |
LARGER VIEW Troll #113 |
LARGER VIEW Troll #114 |
NORWEGIAN TROLL CARVINGS In the Norwegian folklore there are many supernatural beings. The most famous of these are the trolls. Underground there lived small beings called "Tusser." They had heaps of gold and silver. At twilight time they emerged from behind trunks and stones. After darkness had fallen it was dangerous to disturb them. | ||
