Frej Lonnfors

Frej Lonnfors

artisans,varmlandmap

1987

iain

Swedish

Artisan

583

current,59.7265854,13.1227098;

Sweden

Lonnfors, Frej

https://frejlonnfors.com/

TEXT

Lonnfors is a professional craftsperson (slöjdare). He both works with production and with teaching. He is inspired by older crafting techniques and folkloristic elements. Lonnfors has been celebrated for his chip-carving patterns.

RV_PR_04

1226

frej@frejlonnfors.com

instagram,https://www.instagram.com/frejlonnfors/;

070-6671335

woodwork,artist

Lonnfors has crafted in wood througout his life and studied and learned through making. He has both been to school -Sätergläntan, in Dalarna, Sweden - where he was allowed to skip the first year (of three), because he was so knowledgable and he has also taught himself.

Lonnfors has taught as a teacher at Sätergläntan - Institutet för slöjd och hantverk (see RV_CP_04), for five years as well as in grade school for five years. He holds courses as part of his enterprise.

Ulrika Jäger, Kajsa Stinnerbom

Lonnfors has the knowledge nessesary to handle the relevant tools for hand crafting in wood as well as picking out the material. Making shrink pots and decorating them with chip carving is one of Lonnfors signature products. He also knows how to pick out the right material both from a mill, but also in the forest.

Lonnfors is born and grew up in Hagfors (region of Värmland), but have lived and worked in Dalarna a few years. Since a year back, he's living with his family in Värmland, but now outside of Västra Ämtervik. He came back because he was looking for a place to live in Värmland with his partner and they found an older property.

Local swedish wood, and one of his favourites is birch

From local sawing mills and from local forests.

He burns the leftovers in his stove.

Primarily carving in fresh and drier wood. Also the associated practices with getting the materials. See RV_AR_16, RV_AR17, RV_AR_18, RV_AR_19, RV_AR_20. Lonnfors dosen't use machines.

Knife, saw, adz, chalk reel, brace, axe, draw knife, v shaped carving knife, gouges, plane, auger, wooden frame saw, calipers, marking gauge, figure saw, drawing compass, ruler. See RV_CP_05(01-03).

Lonnfors prefers simple tools that have been used historically; tools he can take care of, and mend himself. One of his axes (shown in RV_CP_05(01)) is one he has used throughout his life as a crafter. He changes the handle when needed.

Electric heating, stove and geothermal heating.

Only shavings that can be burnt in the stove.

Lonnfors' studio is in the bottom floor of his residantal house.

Lonnfors makes bespoke artecats and reconstructions of older artefacts that he wants to recreate. He also has a production. Among others, the handicraft developers of Sweden have places orders for traditional linen preparing tools and for courses. Primarily he makes applied arts, such as craft for everyday use.

Exhibitions, sales, for own use, tools for courses. Also takes bespoke orders.

The company Svenskt tenn, museums, and he himself sells.

He can mend objects that are broken. He holds courses and lectures.

Yes

Museums and he gets neq customers through holding courses (his name is spread and it's a mouth to mouth spreading of the word). Lonnfors says that it's crucial and important to meet with people. It's not about merit, but the impression that affects the image of his work. Region and istitutions are also his customers.

No

No, not directly. Maybe through courses, but he can't say for sure.

Jag kommer inte ha kursverksamhet här för förbipasserande turiser men men men det går ju absolut att ha samarbeten med ställen som där turister samlas så att säga så att man kan ha nån täljworkshop eller kortare kurser eller så där på platser där folk ändå är som en del av en upplevelse eller så har jag tänkt också för för företag och så där om man vill göra något med personalen det är ju inte turiseter då men ja. Hitta såna former. Så i framtiden kommer det kommer säkert vara mer av den varan..vad ska man säga...såna samarbeten med andra resmål eller så. Jag tror att det vore smart. (cirka 38 minuter in i intervjun).

No, not more than previously mentioned.

Lonnfors has had about one exhibition a year, but will probably not keep on doing that. Reason being he can't sell artecats and can't take more orders when preparing for an exhibition, and therefor the production comes to a halt. Also, he's not selling the objects at the exhibitions, but when it's over. It's a good way to show his work, but he will still make a change with his way of working. / Also, he can't see any challanges with living in a rural place, but feels it's just right for him and that he would be uninspired and not satisfied if he lived more urban.

Jag är nog en ganska ognällig person som inte funderar så mycket på sånt som stör så men....men det finns en orsak till att vi letat ett hus som ligger så här...jag vill tillexempel inte ha min verksamhet i en tätare byggd stad. Det har jag inte gått igång på tanken för det skulle vara utmanande för mig. (cirka 62 minuter in i intervjun.

https://www.hemslojd.se/med-ett-svaj-som-jimi-hendrix/ https://butiken.sormlandsmuseum.se/inredning-mode/burk-med-skuren-dekor-stor.html https://www.svenskttenn.com/se/sv/formgivare/formgivare-frej-lonnfors/