Lars Kinsarvik

Woodcarver – dragon style

Lars Trondsson Kinsarvik (1846–1925) was a woodcarver, writer and folk musician. He is often called the creator of the Norwegian style. At Hardanger Folk Museum, we exhibit a number of pieces he has made, including chairs, corner cupboards and bowls for drinking beer from.

Kinsarvik had a major impact on the development of Norwegian woodcarving at the end of the 19th century. He was particularly inspired by the dragon style and Norse mythology. Kinsarvik decorated many churches, tourist hotels and old-style cafés. He showed his work at many fairs both in Norway and abroad, including at the World Fair in Paris in 1889. He won a government grant the same year. It is also interesting to note that major sculptors including Ingebrigt Vik and Lars Utne started their careers as apprentices to Lars Kinsarvik.