FJÄLLRIPA

FJÄLLRIPA

For many years, my mother and her sister have shared a pair of earrings between them,  wearing one earring each. They treasure them dearly and the’ve become a personal symbol for them as siblings. When I once asked about them, my mother said, that the little rounded shape was a Willow Ptarmigan carved from reindeer antler.

I’ve come to learn that the Willow Ptarmigan is an important symbol for Torne valley, where the bird represents resilience, nature and northern identity. With its rounded form and characteristic red markings, the ptarmigan frequently appears in traditional handicrafts, often carved from reindeer antler or wood and transformed into jewelry, decorative objects, and small sculptures. These objects reflect the close relationship between local craft traditions, the surrounding landscape, and personal storytelling.

Inspired by this beautiful bird, I made a few pieces that came to be cherished by many visitors. Exhibited was the ’’SåsRipa’’ (Sauce Ptarmigan), ’’TeRipan’’ (Tea Ptarmigan), and ’’SilverRipan’’ (Silver Ptarmigan).

SåsRipan: A sauce snipe or ’’såsripa’’ made out of porcelain with a clear glaze on the inside.

TeRipan: A teapot with a built-in strainer. It is made out of porcelaine with a clear glaze on the inside.

SilverRipan: The larger one is an abstract take of the Willow Ptarmigan. It is a necklace made from 925 silver. The small one is a more figurative version, sculpted out of 925 silver clay, not yet assembled into its final form as jewelry.