March 2005
Norse chest
A small wooden chest of Norse style, inspired by the Mästermyr chest.
I acquired an old table - just a waney-edged slab of raw tree, made some time in the '60s. Since then it had been used as a plant stand, carelessly watered and was in "firewood condition". But I was never one to let good timber go to waste, so I scrounged it. On planing it up it turned into about 6 board-foot of rather nice inch-thick sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus, not the American sycamore that we call "plane").
Original Mästermyr chest
Having intended to make one for a while, I decided to make a reproduction of a Norse chest, as best known from the Mästermyr or Oseberg chests.
Norse chest - open
The timber had some rather nice spalting which I highlighted by using it for the front panel.
This chest is about 18" long, which is rather shorter than most original chests. This was limited by the timber available. I may make some more of these chests, of the full length.
Norse chest - rear view
Construction is typical Norse; open tenons with half-rebates, secured by hardwood pegs.
Norse chest
The lid is hinged on a couple of iron strap hinges. I forged these hot, punching the holes rather than drilling them.
For simplicity I didn't make a lock for this chest. Norse locks were often complex, sliding key-activated locks or even separate padlocks. I may make one (probably several - I might sell them too), or just make a simple retaing hasp.
While I was forging I made a few more sets of hinges. There'll be other chests for sale later this year - probably at re-enactor / LARP events. Look at the For Sale page for details.
Simple box with open tenon construction, held by hornbeam pegs.
Ironwork is hand hot-forged steel, held in place by clenched nails.
Simple finish - linseed oil (unboiled) and beeswax polish.
Other links on Norse chests
Line drawings of the chest and the tools found within it. I believe these are reproduced from THE MASTERMYR FIND, A Viking Age Tool Chest from Gotland, by . Larson Publishing Company, Lompoc California
A useful page, but very difficult to Google for!
