Sven-Åke Risfjell

Woodworker

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Tha art of Sámi crafting

Sven-Åke collects his materials from nature
He turns reindeer antlers into art pieces
He handcrafts Sámi duodji objects

Being in the profession since 1980 the Sámi craftsman Sven-Åke Risfjell is well known for his handcrafted Sámi duodji objects. He works following the Sámi tradition, being part of the indigenous people in northern Sweden. Duodji is an important part of the Sámi culture and it is also an identity marker that the outside world recognises. This is why he and his wife Doris Risfjell, also a craftswoman, welcome visitors from all over the world to their workshop Risfjell Sameslöjd in the city of Vilhelmina. Sven-Åke Risfjell was trained by a master and came into the profession in the late 70s. He has been working with the south Sámi crafts ever since. One of the first objects he made was a well polished, engraved and decorated knife.

Interview

What kind of objects are you working on today?
Mostly knives still, but I also enjoy making drinking vessels out of birch burls, boxes and jewellery made of reindeer antlers. To follow the Sámi tradition, it's important to always source materials from our surroundings.
Where do you source your materials?
The reindeer loses its antlers once a year, and I therefore get to collect the material from the ground where they drop. I am also look out for birch burls, it is an excrescence on the trunk of the birch tree which I collect in the forests close to home.
What is it about your craft that you find so special?
It is a pleasure working in an old tradition, with natural materials that I find in my surroundings, it is a way of being part of something bigger. I also find that many people are delighted with the work I do. It is of course very satisfying.
What is your advice to people following this profession?
Patience. It is a profession that is worth choosing because of its varied shores. But to get there you need to be skilled in your craft and not rush into business. Be resilient and stick to practice.

Sven-Åke Risfjell is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1980