Classes in Decorah
Metalworking and Knifemaking
Click here to download a 2010 class registration form
Making a Norwegian Filet Knife
Michael Schelmeske
Students will make their own custom filet knife, featuring an elegant stacked Scandinavian-style birch, birchbark, and antler handle. The project will conclude by making a birchbark protective blade cover. This will be the second class Schelmeske has taught at Vesterheim. Harley Refsal, woodcarver and Scandinavian handcrafter from Decorah, will assist with the class.
January 15-17 | $190 members / $210 non-members
Michael Schelmeske is a highly versatile craftsman from Grand Marais, Minnesota, who designs and creates canoes and kayak paddles, as well as a wide variety of Scandinavian-inspired utensils, tools, and woodenware for the home.
Traditional Locksmithing—Norwegian “P” Lock
Tom Latané
This class project will be the Norwegian-style forerunner of the modern padlock. This type of lock had a “P” shaped hasp mounted on a cylindrical body and was held in place by a separate bolt. The key, which is inserted in the end of the lock opposite the bolt, compresses springs on the bolt allowing its removal. This type of locking mechanism was used in locks made by the Vikings. Lock construction will be a combination of forging and fabrication (sawing, filing, fitting, and brazing). Decorative details will be encouraged. There will be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: Some ironwork experience encouraged.
July 10-14 | $318 members / $368 non-members
Tom Latané started forging reproduction colonial and early American ironwork in Maryland in the early 1970s. After moving to the Midwest in 1981 he was introduced to the creative whimsy of Norwegian folk iron. Tom and his wife, Catherine, have a shop in Pepin, Wisconsin, where Tom repairs original pieces using a traditional design vocabulary and historic hand techniques. Tom has demonstrated for blacksmith groups and has taught at folk schools around the country. Some of Tom’s ironwork can be seen in Vesterheim’s Westby-Torgerson Education Center.
Norwegian Silver Spoons
Gene Tokheim
Starting with sheet silver and silver wire, students will raise, form, cut, twist, and silver solder to make two or three silver spoons in the Norwegian tradition. After polishing, engraving tools will be available to decorate the spoons. Some of the spoons were designed after Harmen Boris’s spoon, which was made in Bergen, Norway, in 1585 and is now in Vesterheim’s permanent collections. Silver spoons have a rich tradition in Norwegian culture and many of them came to America with immigrants in the 1800s. Gene developed making silver spoons after learning to work with silver on knives and after spotting a beautiful silver spoon in a Vesterheim publication. Come and start your own tradition and make a treasure to use that can be enjoyed for generations to come. The supply fee will be $160 minimum (possibly more, depending on silver prices and size or number of spoons made). Students do not need to bring anything to class—all tools and materials will be supplied by the instructor.
Level of instruction: Beginners to advanced, some silver soldering and basic use of hand tools would be helpful.
July 17-21 | $318 members / $368 non-members
Gene Tokheim has been teaching since the 1980s in the United States and Norway. His work has been exhibited in shows at the University of Minnesota, the American Folk Art Museum in New York City, and the Hedmark Museum in Hamar, Norway. Gene graduated with a studio arts degree from Southwest Minnesota State University and has studied knifemaking at Vesterheim and at the Telemark Folk School in Rauland, Norway. Gene is a Vesterheim Gold Medalist in knifemaking, in addition to being a master silversmith.