What is a budstikke? And why does it have a blue ribbon.

Well, a budstikke is an ancient message stick used in Viking era Norway. It is a hollow tube with a spike. The message would be placed inside and then the budstikke would be thrust into a wooden post for the receiver to find. The post could be an entry door jamb of a house or a post in the village center. This is like a portable and reusable post box.
By the way, if your Google budstikke you will get results for Norwegian and Scandinavian newspapers. This gives a good idea of why budstikke means ‘message stick’. Huh!!
My mother was the daughter of Norwegian immigrants and so I have some heritage that I was curious about. I did a bit of digital research and found some reference material on the Norwegian budstikke. It seemed like something I could make. Woodturning is the process of making wooden objects using a wood lathe, lathe accessories and hand held woodturning tools. It is a simple spindle turned box with a bit of ornamentation and a metal spike. I used simple wood turning tools like a spindle gouge, roughing gouge, skew and parting tools.




In my digital research I found the Vesterheim – The National Norwegian-American Museum & Heritage Center, which is located in Dekorah, IA. They have an annual National Norwegian-American Folk Art Exhibit which ran through June and July of this year. So I entered my ‘budstikke replica’ into their juried exhibition.
I won ‘blue ribbon’ which is first place in the category of woodworking.
National Norwegian-American Folk Art Exhibit 2018 Winners
There is a jury of three judges that critique and declare the category ribbon winners. This year they decided the video the critique and post it to YouTube.
My budstikke has a new home now as it sold for a very fair price and coupled with my winnings for the blue ribbon I have a pocket full of happiness. I am a little sad that I don’t have this one anymore but I will just have to make another. Out to the shop and sometime soon I will show you the new one.
Congratulations on your blue ribbon
Thanks Cindy.
Gothard Knutson did an article for Woodturning Design Magazine about 15 years ago. Interesting history.
Joe, thanks for the comment. Do you recall which issue it was in? I may have it but not realize. Thanks. Stay well and Merry Christmas
Very cool Tod, Congratulations!
Thanks Tony.
What an interesting and beautifully made object. Loved what I read about its history.
Thanks Tib. I need to make another one. Been meaning to for the last year or two.