Stories written in wood, myths revealed in form
From origin to poetry, Norse myths live again in wood.
These boxes were created to honor Norse myths that have shaped my imagination—stories carrying both personal meaning and timeless resonance.
Much of my life has been spent studying literature, especially poetry. One myth that stands out is the tale of the mead of poetry, said to be the source of all verse—good and bad—in the world.
Most of the boxes in this series (with the exception of the mead of poetry piece) are made from ash wood. In Norse myth, the first human, Aske, was carved from an ash log that drifted ashore, while the second, Embla, was formed from an elm tree. Because elm has been largely lost to blight, I work with ash to invoke that sense of origin, continuity, and connection to myth. Each piece blends story and material into a single work of art.
Fenris Wolf Devours the Sun and Moon
This box illustrates the moment during Ragnarok, the end of everything, when Loki’s son, Fenris Wolf, eats the sun and the moon. In the myth, the gods were afraid of the massive wolf and so tricked him into being bound by the dwarven ribbon, Gleipnir, for all time; they stuck a sword in his mouth so that it couldn’t close to bite them. At Ragnarok, Fenris roams the worlds, his huge jaws unable to close, and devours everything in his path. After avenging himself on Odin, Fenris devours the sun and the moon, plunging the worlds into darkness.
The Mead of Poetry Box
The mead of poetry, made by the mischievous dwarves Fjalar and Galar from the blood of Kvasir, the wisest god, was given to the giant Suttungr, who hid it inside a mountain, after they killed his father. Odin tricked Suttungr’s daughter, Gunnlod, into letting him take a sip from the vats that contained the mead; he drank all of it, transformed into an eagle, and fled. Chased by Suttungr, also in eagle form, Odin flew as fast as he could back to Asgard and spat the mead into vats. It is because of this that we have beautiful poetry in the world.
The Gates of Valhalla
Warriors lucky enough to fall in battle are taken to Valhalla by the beautiful Valkyrie, where they fight and train all day and feast and drink with Odin all night. There are 540 gates, each of which can accommodate 800 warriors.