Mini Oseberg Loom

Just recently, amid the projects I NEEDED  to work on, I had inspiration to make an Oseberg style loom - but smaller. As a prototype. Below is what I ultimately want to make;

The original drawing of the reconstruction. Gleaned from the 'net

The loom was used for tablet or card weaving and was found in the Oseberg Viking Ship burial. My prototype is a table or bench top version. I had all the materials I needed so here we go. You can see it with all the pieces rough cut and test-fitted.

The base is made of some unkown wood but has a beautiful colour when oiled. The shape is inspired by the original. I decided it did not need feet but that the ends would do the trick.

The uprights are fir. Originally, they were Kubb batons for another kubb set I'm making, but they looked like they would be perfect and sure enough, they were. I had to notch where the horizontal support joins and round and smooth the tops. And I think I achieved a slight taper but I'll have to double check.

The horizontal support bar is oak.

Here it is assembled and oiled. I just used raw linseed oil to bring out the natural wood colours and add a bit of a golden tinge.

The detail below shows the false dowel tenon. I screwed them together and used my secret glue that looks and acts like pitch for gluing in the plugs.

The uprights are secured to the base with actual trenails using small wedges made of horn. And more secret glue.

I was actually going to make it so it could be taken apart but a number of mistakes were made which necessitated permanently assembling it. But it is not that big. Now to get the ladies to try it out...

And since you have read this far, I'm going to tell you what my secret glue is....roofing patch! Looks like pitch tar glue.

Tyri's Horns

Tyri (that's her norse name but I'm not sure if the spelling is correct), a Reik Felag member who is also a prominent member of the SCA, had these two drinking horns that needed some TLC. The rims coming off was the biggest problem. They were very nice matched horns as you can see from the pix so when she asked if I could do something with them, including adding some ornamentation, (also, she has given me lots of gifts in the past) I couldn't turn it down. There was no rush.

So they sat in my workshop for a few years.

Finally, I got tired of seeing them and was determined to scratch them and a bunch of other long-overdue projects, off my to-do list.

First, give them a light sanding and polish. Clean the glue residue that held the brass rim in place and reglue the brass rims. Give them a polish along the the finial tips. Normally, I would use a metal polish paste to bring out the shine but as the rim was to come into contact with someone's mouth I opted to polish with dried horsetail and it worked beautifully. Was that what the norsemen used to polish with?

So, now with the rims back on and everything shiny it was time to add the ornamentation artwork. Originally, I was going to carve the designs in but that would have taken much more time than I was prepared to give them, especially since I wanted to make a stand for displaying them. Tyri's symbol is the double swan motif she told me so the design I used is reminiscent of such I think you'll agree.

It is inked in, not painted. I was concerned the paint might flake off as I only have water-based paints to use and it would have required oil-based paint (or lots of sanding). Then I clear coated them with food grade varnish (the same stuff used for salad bowls). I didn't use the beeswax polish I normally use as that requires reapplying from time to time.

Next, I made the stand. The base is oak and the upright is a wood that I'm not sure what species it is but it has a peppery smell. Some have said they thought it was oak as well but I'm rather dubious about that. The grain isn't right for oak and it carves very nicely - unlike oak. OK, oak carves well also but just 'feels' different under the knife.

I went with a his and hers theme for the stand and, therefor, you see one side has a man with a beard while the other a woman with the turtle shell brooches and string of beads implied in the design.

To hold the horns onto the stand, leather loops were made with spot studs to accent the piece.

The bottom of the stand is covered with fabric and I made little feet out of leather. You don't see these details but they will help to keep the stand from scratching furniture.

I brought the whole thing to the midsummer festival to present it to her but she was unable to attend so I had someone make sure she got it.

I hope she likes them.