Rut Fjågesund

Woodturner

©Rakel Emhjellen Paulsen

©Even Lundefaret

©Rut Fjaagesund

Design and craftsmanship from the Norwegian woods

Rut combines simple design and tactile décor in her wood creations
She uses only locally sourced wood from her home county
She is inspired by Nordic design traditions and Japanese kitsungi

Rut Fjågesund found her love for woodturning while studying to become an arts and crafts teacher. During that time, she had moved back to the green woods of her home county after spending years in the city, with a degree in social work and a yearning to pursue a more creative career. "When I was introduced to woodwork as part of my teacher training, something clicked," Rut says. A few weeks later she bought her own lathe and set up her workshop. Rut is influenced by the Nordic design tradition and combines simple shapes with hand carved décor. "I no longer discard wood with a knot but enhance the weak area by sewing it together with birch root, inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi. It makes the product special, since the use of birch root is another old craft tradition," she explains.

Interview

©Even Lundefaret

©Even Lundefaret

What do you enjoy most about the process?: I love the combination of the rough machine work of woodturning and the fine handwork of wood carving. It makes the days varied. Turning on a lathe is fast, rough, noisy and dusty, in contrast to the slow work of carving with a chisel by hand.
Where do you source your materials?: I only buy local wood from my home county Telemark, and in the future I plan to use timber from our own woods. I mainly use hardwood such as maple, birch, elm, roe, ash and alder wood and always consider the natural beauty of the wood before adding any décor.
How important is craftsmanship to you?: It is very important! Working with hands cannot be rushed. I think clients also value the product more when they know where it came from, the work that went into it and the story behind it. The things I make will hopefully last for generations.
Where do you practise your craft?: I do my woodturning on the small farm I live in, which has been in my partner’s family for generations. There was already a workshop here, used by the previous owners to make knives and sheaths. It stands fairly untouched and is full of tools. It is nice to think that the craftsmanship of this place is carried on in a new form.

Rut Fjågesund is a rising star: she began her career in 2021 and she started teaching in 2022