The White Falcon - 21.05.1971, Blaðsíða 11

Iceland in Art
A goldsmith’s silver work
In the display window of the store operated by the Icelandic Handi-
crafts Association, a non-profit organization fostering the growth of
hand-made artifacts, is a display of modernistic jewelry encompassed
under the name of Johannes Johanr.esson.
Johannes is a goldsmith by
profession, or at least that is
what the small sign at his work
shop on Skolavordust says. He
doesn't work with gold much
though, it is too expensive;
therefore all his efforts are di-
rected to hand-made silver work.
His is an old and respected
profession in Iceland whose ear-
lier examples are exhibited in
the National Kuseum and modem
copies adorn the shelves of sou-
venir shops. Johannes maintains
this old tradition, not in his
work though, because he does not
copy and all of his works are
original, exhibiting a cross be-
tween the modern and primitive.
He began his career in 1939
with a four and a half year ap-
prenticeship in another shop.
After the war he digressed for a
year's study at the Bams Founda-
tion in Pennsylvania to study
painting. Since that time he has
also become an accomplished paint-
er whose works have been success-
fully exhibited.
In continuing the tradition of
apprenticeship that nurtured his
start, Johannes has two young
prospectives working under his
guidance. Ofeigur Bjomsson has
been working there for five years
and Johannes Bardarson now in his
second year. Host of the smaller
pendants, rings and broches are
made by them and cannot be dis-
tinguished from the work of the
master. This allows Johannes to
concentrate his time on larger
pieces such as multi-candle hold-
ers which are specially commis-
sioned.
WHITE FALCON
11