one of Sweden's best spooncarvers

[robin wood]

Sweden is known amongst green woodworkers for spooncarving largely through the writing of Wille Sundqvist and teaching of his son Jogge. There are very few professional spooncarvers though and Fritiof Runhal is one of the best. He is in the UK at the moment and has just taught a course. Full write up of the course here http://greenwood-carving.blogspot.com/2011/09/spooncarving-course-with-fritiof-runhal.html
and lots of inspirational pics of Fritof's spoons here http://greenwood-carving.blogspot.com/2011/09/one-of-swedens-best-spooncarvers.html

 

[MartiniDave]

Corrr! They all very nice.

Thanks Robin.

Dave

 

[Tjurved]

Cool that he is using spruce for one spoon and it has passed the test of time and use!

 

[Stew]

Looks like a great session!

 

[robin wood]

Few more pics, this is a spoon blank cut in less than 5 minutes with the axe, I never saw anyone hollow a spoon with an axe before.

Fritiof frequently works left handed

This means that the blank tends to stay very symmetrical and also that he can see the line he is cutting whether with axe or knife. We all learned to work left handed with both axe and knife, it felt like being a beginner again but was very useful.
Spoons made by student

and another students work

 

[Totumpole]

Awesome spoonage! Havent carved one in a while, and this has got me on the case, except I will wait till Im off night shifts. Gonna be a good Monday sunshine garden activity!

 

[dancan]

Thanks for sharing !

 

[dwardo]

Very very cool all of them so much tallent. Can i ask what the deal is with the slot in the spoon?

 

[robin wood]

Very very cool all of them so much tallent. Can i ask what the deal is with the slot in the spoon?

Yep, it has been quite humbling and inspirational at the same time. The slot? I guess that is the salad servers in the first picture? Folk do salad servers in different ways, slots, forks etc. I have never really understood why salad servers should have one vaguely forky one and one spoony one but it is sort of tradition.

 

[addo]

Really nice work, great to see this kind of work taught in the UK.

 

[Tiley]

That's truly inspirational stuff! Lovely to see the course students so inspired as well. Will he be making another visit in the not-too-distant future at all?

 

[Retired Member southey]

Brilliant, I always enjoy reading your blog Robin, this article is no exception, many thanks!

Southey,