Crafting wood chip birds

When crafting wood chip birds, the bird's body is carved out of a piece of wood, while the wings and tail are made from wood chips or shavings.

Location: Nation wide

Photo of three hanging wood chip birds in front of a wooden panel.

Wood chip birds are usually made with aspen or pine wood, using only a knife to carve the body and the wood chips. Photo: Sandra Stigert

The knowledge of crafting wood chip birds used to be common in the entire country of Sweden, but during the last hundred years, it has become a prominent part of the craft tradition of the Skaraborg region. The birds are usually made with aspen or pine wood, using only a knife to carve the body and the wood chips. Crafting the birds requires deep knowledge of the material and tools, as it includes several delicate steps when handling the wood chips. In the region of Skaraborg, one particular family has passed down the craft knowledge through three generations, which has contributed to its popularity locally.

During the 19th century and the early 20th century, wood-chip birds were a popular decoration in Swedish homes at Christmas time. Similar traditions can be traced to other European countries such as Germany, Hungary, Chezchia, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Russia. The tradition has been thought to either have Christian roots or having originated through old folk practices.

Today, there are a few active practitioners left in Sweden. Some of them sell wood-chip birds or provide instructions for the craft. In recent years, a project has been initiated to document and disseminate the knowledge of the craft. Courses in making wood chip birds have also been held by local crafts associations.

Literature

Ewert Cagner, Göran Axel-Nilsson och Henrik Sandblad (1954), Swedish Christmas. Tre Tryckare. Göteborg.

Lena Kättström Höök (2008), "Takfåglar". Etnobiologi i Sverige (del III). Wahlström och Widstrand. Stockholm.

Articles

Albert Eskeröd (1960), ”Fågelmakaren och hans fåglar”. Fataburen. Nordiska museets och Skansens årsbok 1960. Stockholm.

Albert Eskeröd (1964), Swedish Folk Art. Nordiska Museet. Stockholm.

Greta Johansson (1993), ”Slöjd med ryska traditioner. Tre generationer spånfågelmakare”. Hemslöjden. Årgång 1993, nummer 6.

Nils Edvard Hammarstedt (1903), ”Fågeln med segerstenen, sprängörten och lifsämnet”. Fataburen. Nordiska museets och Skansens årsbok 1903. Stockholm.

Nils Edvard Hammarstedt (1908), ”Inspirationsfågeln”. Fataburen. Nordiska museets och Skansens årsbok 1908.

Thord Mellgren skär spånfåglarLänk till annan webbplats. External link.. 2013. Youtube.

About the project Lätta vingarLänk till annan webbplats. External link..