Witnesses to history forged in beauty
- Peter forged his first miniature sword at eight years old, inspired by his father
- He creates his swords based on ancient artefacts
- His Athena sword is part of The Met’s permanent collection in New York
Peter Johnsson’s fascination with swords stems from his childhood in Sweden, where he grew up in a landscape studded with ancient monuments. His parents brought the past to life with stories, and by showing him artefacts and swords made by artisans of those eras. This led Peter to study their history, and later to narrate new stories by crafting swords himself. He is keen on not romanticising his craft. “Swords are made with the finest materials and skills, but are also charged with tragic meaning. They are both a celebration of beauty and a witness to our failings as human beings, born out of conflict,” Peter shares. He believes that swords are crucial to understanding ourselves. “Swords are mirrors that reveal who we truly are, with our virtues and our ugliest traits,” he explains.
Interview
- How old were you when you made your first sword?
- My father, who is a sculptor, gave me a little anvil when I was eight years old and taught me how to forge a piece of steel into a blade. This anvil was of low quality, but it was beautiful, and on it I created my first miniature swords. I used it so much that I eventually wore it out entirely.
- How important was the influence of your father in your craft?
- As a child, I would rather observe him in his workshop than play outside. My earliest memories are of me sitting on his lap while he sculpted. Later, he showed me a special technique of his own to shape metal. It is the only technique that I have never revealed to my students and colleagues, because he asked me to keep it a secret.
- What was a particularly memorable moment in your career?
- The moment my sword dedicated to the goddess Athena entered the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It was the first time the museum included new work from a contemporary bladesmith, which is a huge honour for me. The sword is currently on public display.
- Could your craft be considered in danger?
- Yes. Because of the stigma around swords and today’s troubled times, some countries are imposing very strict laws, and some shipping companies have very restrictive rules. That is unfortunate, because we need swords as cultural reminders of our responsibility to strive for peace. Only when we accept them as part of our history can we face our fears and overcome our shortcomings.
Peter Johnsson is a master artisan: he began his career in 1999 and he started teaching in 2017
Where
Peter Johnsson
