Mästermyr Style Chest Class
In May 2024, Vesterheim Folk Art School offered a three-part class series for students to learn woodworking and metalworking practices from the Viking Age and combine the techniques into a single project. The project for the classes was based on the Mästermyr Chest, a Viking Age (789–1066) tool chest found in Mästermyr on the island of Gotland, Sweden. Inside the chest, was an assortment of tools, considered one of the largest tool finds from that era in Europe. The original chest is now on display in the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm.
The classes were held in-person at Tunnel Mill Crafts in Spring Valley, Minnesota, and were taught by Tom Latané and Paul Nyborg. Derek Olson had planned to teach the wood box making session but was called away before the classes started. Tom was able to step in with Derek’s pre-planning and support.
During the first session, students constructed the wooden chest, learning to hew and plane boards from oak pieces rived from a log. They learned mortise and tenon joinery and lap joints, secured with rived and whittled pegs. The crowned lid was carved on the underside to form a hollow to reduce weight and create a pleasing form.
Students then worked with Paul Nyborg to learn to forge the hinges and hasps that were joined to the top strap fitted to the chest lid. They also forged the nails for securing the hardware.
The last days were spent forging the lock and key with Tom Latané, a detailed and complicated process.
The instructors drew up their design based on the sketches and measurements given in the book The Mästermyr Find: A Viking Age Tool Chest from Gotland by Greta Arwidsson and Gosta Berg (available in the Museum Store). Much of the hardware detail was conjecture or supposition because of damage and deterioration of the original. Though some modern tools were used, period-appropriate techniques were taught.
The following is a selection of photos from the class from Tom Latané with basic details about the process and the class progression. Click on each picture in the gallery to read what’s happening.
The students and instructors thoroughly enjoyed learning through this process together. The new forging studio at Vesterheim in Decorah will allow for more exciting classes like this one!
