[TheForge] Speaking of MASTERMYR: Mastermyr II Item Status and Mastermyr Replicas Display Locations & Dates (2006 Update 1)

Fri Feb 10 13:43:44 EST 2006

Dan,

Have them check out the 2 links in my original email:

theforge Mastermyr site:

http://www.netlabs.net/~osan/Mastermyr/

Mastermyr Find:

http://www.historiska.se/collections/treasures/viking-e.html

Also, here is the text from the tri fold brochure I put together on the
Project:

The Mästermyr Find

The items were found on the island of Gotland Sweden in 1936.  A farmer
plowing a recently drained portion of a bog in Mästermyr hit something
with his plow.  It was the tool chest wrapped in a chain. In the
excavation that followed, over 200 items were found in and around the
wooden tool chest including blacksmith tools woodworking tools and a
variety of other blacksmith made items. 

It is not certain how the items came to be in the bog.  One theory is
that the items were cached there during a period when the level of the
bog was low.  Another is that they were lost from a boat crossing the
bog when the water levels were high.  In any case, the fact that they
were in the bog is what allowed them to be found in such a well
preserved state nearly one thousand years later.  The items in the find
are dated to around 1000 AD.  

The Mastermyr Find is on display in The Museum of National Antiquities
in Stockholm, Sweden.  Information on the display can be found on the
internet at the following website:

 http://www.historiska.se/collections/treasures/Viking-e.html

“theforge” 
Replica Project
In 2000 members of “theforge” decided to make Replicas of the Mastermyr
Find to display at the ABANA 2002 conference to be held in LaCrosse
Wisconsin.  The purpose was to demonstrate the effectiveness of using
the internet, via theforge email list server, to allow a diverse group
of blacksmiths throughout the United States and Canada to collaborate on
a blacksmithing project. 

Another goal of the project was to investigate and learn about ancient
blacksmithing techniques while reproducing items from the find and to
use the completed items to educate the public by exhibiting them at the
ABANA Conference.

The choice of the Mästermyr Find, a Viking Age find of Blacksmithing
tools from Sweden, was an appropriate one considering the long history
of Scandinavian culture and tradition in the region of the United States
surrounding LaCrosse.

The plan was to have each participating smith reproduce one or more of
the items. The work was to be completed by January 2002 allowing plenty
of time to assemble the collection prior to the conference. There was
even discussion of how to determine which item, in the case of
duplicates, would be put in the display. As plans often go astray, so
did this one.  January 2002 came and went with few items completed.
Items were coming in at the last minute and it wasn’t which items to
pick for the display but rather would there be enough items for a
display. Mr. Rob Fertner from Kansas had the challenge of collecting the
completed items; bringing them to the conference; and helping to set up
the display. 

The replicas were met with resounding praise at the conference and
everywhere else they have been displayed since.   There are still plans
to find a permanent location to display the collection, but in the
meantime it is making the rounds. 

There are currently 79 items in the collection.   There are 44 more
items left to be made, 21 of them currently not assigned.  Any and all
smiths are encouraged to join in and help complete these items.

Item numbers correspond to the catalog numbers in the book: THE
MÄSTERMYR FIND A Viking Age Tools Chest from Gotland by Greta Arwidsson
and Gosta Berg  1999 by  Larson Publications Lompoc, CA 93436  email:
larbooks at impulse.net            

If they have other questions have them send them to theforge or contact
me direct at: newky2 at dejazzd.com

Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Dan Tull
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 12:06 PM
To: Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Speaking of MASTERMYR: Mastermyr II Item
StatusandMastermyr Replicas Display Locations & Dates (2006 Update 1)

I've already gotten some replies as to "what is it?" , so
maybe there is enough new blood to put it out again.
So, Bill, you and Andy explain how it works.
I'm in favor of finishing it up, but not with ties to abana06.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Demon Buddha" <osan at netlabs.net>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 11:48 AM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Speaking of MASTERMYR: Mastermyr II Item Status 
andMastermyr Replicas Display Locations & Dates (2006 Update 1)

>
>
> April & Bill Clemens wrote:
>> Well it finally happened, someone besides me mentioned Mastermyr!
>>
>> I haven't posted a status for a while, giving it a rest and hoping
that
>> after a break, we might get a new head of steam and finish it. What's

>> everything think? Want to try to complete it for ABANA 2006?
>
> I think that is a good idea. :)
>>
>>
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