Swedish Light
On the shortest day of the year, 21 December, we look to Appelgren, run by artist Malin Appelgren. Trained by her grandfather who produced the first Royal Sconce for Swedish royalty in the 1930s, Malin continues the tradition of hand-hammering each brass and pewter piece by hand.
On the wall in front of me, Malin explains, there’s a picture of my grandfather, mum’s dad, Karl-Erik Torssell. I learnt this handicraft from him. Still; the first thing he said when I asked if I could have a go was – no. No, this is not for girls. It’s too heavy, it’s too hard. So, I nagged him. Please, can’t I just hold the hammer? So he let me.
Granddad taught me everything he knew. How to make the Royal Sconce, for instance. The Swedish king Gustav V bought the first two my grandfather made. They were a wedding gift to Prince Gustav Adolf of Sweden and Sibylla, in the early nineteen-thirties.
I rely on instinct, and the experience I’ve built up. When I look back at what I’ve made, a principle can be discerned. It’s the question I ask of every new idea I get: Is it simple? Will it last? Will it work?
On the wall in front of me, Malin explains, there’s a picture of my grandfather, mum’s dad, Karl-Erik Torssell. I learnt this handicraft from him. Still; the first thing he said when I asked if I could have a go was – no. No, this is not for girls. It’s too heavy, it’s too hard. So, I nagged him. Please, can’t I just hold the hammer? So he let me.
Granddad taught me everything he knew. How to make the Royal Sconce, for instance. The Swedish king Gustav V bought the first two my grandfather made. They were a wedding gift to Prince Gustav Adolf of Sweden and Sibylla, in the early nineteen-thirties.
I rely on instinct, and the experience I’ve built up. When I look back at what I’ve made, a principle can be discerned. It’s the question I ask of every new idea I get: Is it simple? Will it last? Will it work?
If you hold something I’ve made in your hand, you must sense the time that’s gone into it. When I sit down at the stock with a piece of metal in front of me, time passes but slowly. The ‘now’ solely consists of focused attention. From here time stretches back, so I can find my place in this tradition. And ahead, towards forms yet not conceived.
Craftsmanship is all about this. About time.
Text and images courtesy of Malin Appelgren.
Find out more and follow Appelgren:
www.appelgren.com
@malinapp