The Hárbarðr / Hrafn Casket

[Wayland]

Not much difference to see today.

Slightly adjusted the lock plate position because my OCD kicked in, and carved lines on the four faces in keeping with the original but leaving space for some more carving.

As much as anything I wanted to do something low impact to check my hands and tools were ready to get more serious.

I'm out in the woods over the holiday so probably not much more happening till I get back now.

 

[Keith_Beef]

I'm in the process of gathering together the documentation and tooling to make myself a Viking kind of chest like the Mästermyr one or similar. The lock of that chest was too badly corroded to be copied, though, I think.

Wayland, where did you find the information to make your lock plate and mechanism?

 

[Wayland]

I didn't make this lock, I found it on the stall of a trader at the Jorvik Festival this year.

It's late at the moment but I believe this might be a variation of the Mastermyr lock.

I'll check in the morning because I have some info on that in my library.

 

[Wayland]

OK, here you can see a drawing of what was left of the Mastermyr lock with a theoretical drawing of how it should work.

Below that you have the lock I found which appears to be simplified version.

 

[sgtoutback]

That is pretty amazing. the metal work is stunning, thank you for sharing

 

[Wayland]

After a few days experimenting with different layouts and designs, most of which seemed too crowded, I decided to keep things simple.

Two Ravens, Huginn and Muninn perhaps, one on each end which leaves the face and the back for maybe a little more line work similar to the original Hedeby example.

The Raven design is a hybrid between a coin found in York and clothing hooks found in Timerevo, Gniezdowo and Birka.

I’m happy with the scale and positioning as shown in the picture above now I have to remove the temporary screws holding the box together ( It will finally be constructed with wooden pegs ) , transfer the design to the wood and then I can start work on the carving.

 

[vestlenning]

Nice work Wayland!

In the reconstruction of "The Myklebust Ship" there's one chest for every oar, seems right to me:

About "The Myklebust Ship": https://sagastad.no/en/the-myklebust-ship/

 

[Wayland]

I must get on and finish this soon.

Not seen the Myklebust Ship myself, but that looks like a good reconstruction.

I suspect the chests would have been more varied in construction, as I think they were probably personal possessions rather than ships fittings but people argue over that one all the time.

The "Room" was the space between the ribs fore and aft and the chests take up about half the space which was allotted to each man so they look about the right size to me.

 

[Janne]

Wonderful ship, not seen that one yet!

To my practical eyes, Waylands chest lid looks nicer to sit on.
My guess is that the chests on the ship would be rotated 90 degrees when used to sit on and row.
Amart from the rear end friendlier curved top ( maybe with a cushioning sheeps hide ) i would think the feet / stand should be wider to prevent tipping when force is applied when on the oar, and in bad seas.

My backside would prefer Waylands cask/ stool.

Wonder in the funeral was a two part affair?
Burn the person first, collect bones and placed in the container, then place the container in well equipped ( for Valhalla trip and living) ship then burned?

 

[Tengu]

Ok, I am not a Viking Specialist...I mean I was a slave of one some time back, but that is not the same.

Did they really have their shields hung on the outside of the ships?

 

[Wayland]

Ok, I am not a Viking Specialist...I mean I was a slave of one some time back, but that is not the same.

Did they really have their shields hung on the outside of the ships?

Yes, it provides additional freeboard and keep the sailors a bit drier.

The chests on that ship are in sailing position. They would be turned 90 degrees for rowing.

 

[Janne]

Ok, I am not a Viking Specialist...I mean I was a slave of one some time back, but that is not the same.

A drift anchor?


I am a slave today. Slave of the Society.
Had a day off today, Constitution Day. Back to the Coal Pit tomorrow!

 

[plastic-ninja]

Here is a quick view of the inside of the lid. It was a real swine to carve out, maple is very hard stuff it seems.

The straps and hinges are currently held in place with small screws so that I can dismount them for the carving work.

When it is complete they will be riveted through with roves for a more authentic and permanent construction.

Seeing it open it does have the look of a Scandinavian dough trough. I wonder whether there might have been another use for the domed lid.
Just thinking aloud really, but if it had slide-off hinges it could be a possibility.
Love the look of it.

 

[Wayland]

The first thing that comes to my mind is that if you were sorting through smallish items the lid would make a great tray to put them into so they didn't get lost. I bet that is how it will get used before too long.

When working on the LHE I'm always looking for safe places to put things so they don't end up in the grass, which is often quite long.

It certainly has the look of a dough trough though but I suspect it was just a matter of giving more internal height to the chest originally.

 

[Tengu]

Oh, you have coal in the Bahamas? I thought it was all rock and coconut trees...

They must have had a way to secure the chests in position. Stuff moves around a lot in rough seas (likewise lashed the oars down)

 

[Janne]

Caymans. South of Cuba.
Coconuts, lots. I have 6 or 7 varieties growing in my garden, planted all myself.
2 more to be planted soon.
I suspect coconuts were transplanted from the Pacific in early history.
The breadfruit tree was imported by Capten Bligh of Bounty ( not the choccie Bounty) fame.
Coconut, Breadfruit and a small piece of fish and you survive forever!

Breadfruit is yet to be discovered by European chefs.

No Coal, except in the dirty gas grill. Carbonized animal parts, veggie parts, cheese parts and bits of Carbonized Apple, Oak and Mesquite woodchips!

 

[Janne]

It certainly looks like a dough trough, but no baking was done on a boat, or by a man.
The dry rye bread, still loved and eaten today was carried onboard.
Knäckebröd.
I have three slices every morning.
The ladies had specific throughs for the dough, up until the late 1800’. Were inherited. The wood was infused with sourdough cultures. Never washed.

The dome is nice to sit on, and being hollowed out, is lighter and gives more internal spsce than a solid one, plus any engineer can tell you a dome like that is very strong.

 

[Robson Valley]

Spanish contact chronicles read that coconuts were growing on the western shore of Panama but NOT on the eastern shore.

 

[Janne]

Good info. So a later intro.

Useful plant. If the Norse had Coconut and Breadfruit the whole world would speak Swedish, eat Knäckebröd with butter and Creamed Cod Roe spread for breakfast!

 

[Woody girl]

Good info. So a later intro.

Useful plant. If the Norse had Coconut and Breadfruit the whole world would speak Swedish, eat Knäckebröd with butter and Creamed Cod Roe spread for breakfast!

Creamed cod roe is so disgusting! I would rather starve than eat that! I have knackerbrod in my cupboard though. I have one now and then with cheese. Would they have had cheese on their voyages I wonder?