Name/Title
Wood FigurineEntry/Object ID
2025.18.32Description
Handmade wood carving depicting a man ice fishing. He is seated on a wood crate, bundled up in mittens, a coat, a hat, and a plaid scarf. He has a thermos in his coat pocket. His fishing line is going into a hole in the ice. There is an ice pick embedded in the ice on one side and a caught fish on the other. The inscription on the bottom says, "C.O. Trygg Sweden 1965".Use
For display in the home.Context
The Tryggs were a family of prolific wood carvers in the 20th century. The father, Carl Johan Trygg, is said to have carved over 40,000 figures in his lifetime. Carl John began wood carving people he saw in his everyday life – laborers, fishermen, the homeless, etc. He passed his knowledge down to his sons – Carl Olof and Lars.
The process begins with basswood, grown in the east coastal area of Sweden. The wood is dried for 6-8 months. The figures are then hand carved using axes, saws, and hews. Lastly, the figure is painted. Carl Olof does both the carving and the painting, whereas Lars does the carving while his wife does the painting. The process all together takes about 2 hours for every figure.Acquisition
Accession
2025.18Source or Donor
Charles V. Hogren, Anne L. Hogren WoodsonAcquisition Method
DonationMade/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Carl Olof TryggRole
Wood-carverDate made
1965Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
Country
SwedenRegion
Northern EuropeContinent
EuropeInscription/Signature/Marks
Type
InscriptionLocation
BottomTranscription
C.O. Trygg Sweden 1965Language
EnglishMaterial/Technique
InkLexicon
LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
Wood carving, Sculpture, Ice fishingDimensions
Height
6-3/8 inWidth
4-3/8 inLength
7-1/8 inMaterial
Wood and paint, WireReproductions
Notes
Reproduction of the Museum's artifacts for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires written permission.
