Old World Style Ale Bowls
About my bowls:
I specialize in the creation of reproduction quality, traditional old world style folk art ceremonial ale bowls. My work is inspired by objects created by tradespeople and cherished by families for generations from the Viking age through modern times. I find examples of these bowls in many collections such as the Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum, private collections, antique shops, books and online resources.
Traditionally, decorated bowls were used to serve ale ceremonially, for special events such as weddings, Christmas, christenings, and other events. Bowls intended for everyday and food use we usually not decorated, maybe a coat of paint on the outside.
My tools are both electrically and self powered lathes, hand forged hook tools, gouges, scrapers and carving knives. Each bowl is born from a green (freshly cut) log, then turned. Tool marks on the surface show the hand of the maker. As you see in old bowls, small imperfections and warpage does occur and is part of the natural process. The wood is worked green and seasoned after the bowl is created. Minimum abrasives are used as in the originals that inspire me. Each bowl is a unique creation, there are no two exactly alike.
My passion includes researching and understanding the history, traditions and forms of these vessels.
Rosemalers: Ready for a challenge? See my unfinished reproduction vessels!
I specialize in the creation of reproduction quality, traditional old world style folk art ceremonial ale bowls. My work is inspired by objects created by tradespeople and cherished by families for generations from the Viking age through modern times. I find examples of these bowls in many collections such as the Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum, private collections, antique shops, books and online resources.
Traditionally, decorated bowls were used to serve ale ceremonially, for special events such as weddings, Christmas, christenings, and other events. Bowls intended for everyday and food use we usually not decorated, maybe a coat of paint on the outside.
My tools are both electrically and self powered lathes, hand forged hook tools, gouges, scrapers and carving knives. Each bowl is born from a green (freshly cut) log, then turned. Tool marks on the surface show the hand of the maker. As you see in old bowls, small imperfections and warpage does occur and is part of the natural process. The wood is worked green and seasoned after the bowl is created. Minimum abrasives are used as in the originals that inspire me. Each bowl is a unique creation, there are no two exactly alike.
My passion includes researching and understanding the history, traditions and forms of these vessels.
Rosemalers: Ready for a challenge? See my unfinished reproduction vessels!
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Bowl #117-11 8 3/4" diameter x 13 1/4" long x 3 1/2" high. Birch. Painted by Judith Kjenstad. $400.00 shipping included.
This type of bowl is called a Trøys. A spouted bowl. The carving on the rim of this bowl is inspired by two bowls from the 16th or 17th century listed in the books "Norske Drikkekar av Tre" and "Drikkestell for øl i Trøndelag". |
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Bowl 117-4 above is 3' tall, 5 3/4" diameter.
Rosemaled by Judith Kjenstad. Translation: Drink and be in a good moode. Say thanks for the good ale. $275.00. USA Shipping and handling included. |
Sold.
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Bowl 117-5 above is 8 1/2" diameter.
Rosemaled by Judith Kjenstad. Translation: I am a bowl of wood. The woodsman has felled me. The wood turner has turned my body. The painter has dressed me up. $400.00 USA Shipping and handling included. |
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Bowl 117-7 above is 4" diameter.
Rosemaled by Judith Kjenstad. Translation: Greet the day with the soul filled with lifes gladness. $250.00 USA Shipping and handling included. |
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Bowl 117-8 12" diameter, 5"high
This is an unfinished raw wood bowl in black birch. It's a close reproduction of a bowl shown in the book "Drikkestell for oi i Trondelag" $200.00 USA shipping and handling included. |
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Bowl 117-9 10" Diameter, 3 3/4" high.
An unfinished raw wood black birch bowl. $160.00 USA shipping and handling included. |
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Bowl 117-10, 7" diameter, 3' high birchwood bowl. Traditional linseed oil finish.
$175.00 shipping included. This is an interesting bowl. It's shape and decoration is inspired by antique bowls I've seen in collections at the Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum in Decorah Iowa https://www.facebook.com/vesterheimmuseum/ and in other collections and books. It has a delicately carved ridge and is also adorned with a technique known as svedekor (scorched decoration). I believe most old bowls shaped like this have come from the Voss district on the west coast of Norway. Some are painted (rosemaled) and some are left natural or oiled. This would be considered a ceremonial Ale Bowl because of its shape and decoration. A bowl this size (7") would make an ideal wedding bowl. Its hard to tell exactly what ceremonies are assigned any single piece as each family has their own traditions. Christmas, Easter, weddings, christenings were all events where the Ale bowl was taken down from it's honored place and filled with the homemade brew. The high pedestal base is also hollowed like the main bowl, to keep the wood's overall thickness to a fairly even dimension. This allows the raw green wood to dry much more evenly and lessens the chances of cracking. |
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Spalted Birch Bowl #3 $230.00 Including shipping and handling.
Spalted Birch, turned in a Norwegian ale bowl style. 11" diameter, 4 1/2" high. |
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