Oseberg Chair Reconstruction

Construction photos of The Chest of Oseberg Chair

by the Thatshim ( Gary Baker ) & Indunna ( Jenny Baker )

This reconstruction won 1st Prize for Domestic Furniture Reconstruction at the

15th Australasian Historical Conference 2009

Background history on the Original Chair

In 1904 a remarkable archaeological site was uncovered at Oseberg, Norway.

It consisted of an astonishingly well-preserved Viking ship that contained the remains of two women along with a wide array of accompanying grave goods.

This vessel, which is widely celebrated as one of the finest finds of the Viking Age, had been buried within a large mound or haugr.

The burial mound measured approximately 40m long by 6.5m high and it completely covered the boat.

The conditions within the mound were particularly damp and this meant that the ship and its contents survived nearly intact.

The Ship under excavation

Professor Gabriel Gustafson and the crew. Photo: Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo/ Olaf Væring.

Excavation of the Oseberg ship in 1904. Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo/ Olaf Væring.

You can read more about the Excavation at The Story Begins

Centrally placed on the ship were the skeletons of two women whose remains had been placed in a specially built wooden tent.

One of the woman was in her eighties and this was reflected in the condition of her bones which showed that she had suffered badly from arthritis during her final years. The second woman was younger and had died in her early fifties .

The connection between the two women is unclear; it is possible that they were related or more sinisterly represent the remains of a noble woman interred with her sacrificed slave.

Indeed, some have speculated that one of the women may be Queen Åsa, the grandmother of Norway’s first king, although this remains unproven.

For a List of what was contained with in the Ship Grave By the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo/ Olaf Væring.

The Original chair was first thought to be child’s chair

But we believe its in fact a women’s chair as it’s the perfect height to sit at the Tablet weaving loom found in the same grave.

Museum photos of the Oseberg Chair

Details about the Oseberg chair from Osebergfunnet Vol II

Original Archaeological report Sketches from Oseberg Fundet – Vol III

Our Reconstruction of the Chair details

Project started on Jan 2008

Project finished on - Jan 2008

Construction Time - it was done over 2 weeks in Jan 2008

Chair Construction – Method used

• Wood used – Pine ( chosen because of budget limitations – the original was Beech )
• Hand Tools – saw, chisel hand drill, sand paper
• Rope – sisal rope
• The Chair has been finished with a wipe over of Orange Oil

Photos taken during the reconstruction building of the Chair

The Chair is Finished

References:

The Kulturhistorisk museum - the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo

key search words : Osebergfunn = Oseberg Find

The Story Begins Excavation of the Oseberg ship in 1904. Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo/ Olaf Væring.

Oseberg Fundet, Vol. ii & Vol. III- Brogger and Schetelig,

http://archaeology.about.com/od/oterms/g/oseberg.htm