The Armour Archive

Greeting all,
I was wondering if anyone has any references to sleds in the 10th to 15th centuries. I don't even know where to start looking. I have info on Early American and native American sleds. With the recent snowfall here , I started wondering about Early European use of sleds. I,m interested in both work and play sleds. Any help would be appreciated
Onz

There is a couple of sleds from the Oseberg find which might be a start:
http://www.khm.uio.no/utstillinger/oseb ... r/0380.gif

A bit later then your request is Olaus Magnus' "Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus" where several sleds are depicted, for instance:
http://www.wildsnow.com/articles/olaus/olaus3.gif


/R

Raymund,
Thank you. Thats a start. I'll keep looking, and if I find anything else I'll post it.
Thanks again,
Onz

There are a number of renaissance low country paintings of children at play. IIRC at least one includes sledding.

Thomas

Yeah
There are a handful from the Oseberg grave.
I can send you more info if youd like
Pics and text.

Halv

Oddley enough, I'm ironing a couple of sleds that a local woodworker has made, 19th century pattern, though.

Reading Egil's saga also might be interesting. I remember them using the winter months to extort tribute from the Sammi (Lapps) on skis and/or sleds. (A little foggy here after 20-30 years, time to re-read it.)

The Oseberg sleds look remarkably like 19th and 20th century sleds used in America for farm work and smaller dog or hand sleds. It seems not much has changed in the style of work sleds. I didn't even think to look into the Lapps for sleds(smacks self in head!). I'll see what I can find on the Lapps.
Thanks a lot ,
Onz

Halvgrim,
Thank you, I would be interested in more info. My email address is in my profile.

Cap'n Atli,
would that be a work or play sled? Here are some American wooden sled designs http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/winter/g ... /index.htm some are interesting.
Onz

Thanks for the link, interesting stuff.

The ones I'm working on look like a cross between a gummer and a stone boat- Looks more for working than for recreation. They're coming by this weekend with a template for the runners, so I'll get another look (and may reverse myself).

About a year ago I saw on dutch TV a very small medieval sled made from a wooden board and the jawbones of a horse. I believe the find was in Dordrecht. A modern replica is on display at a museum in Dordrecht. Unforunately, I can't find any link to it.

renaissance art, as someone else mentioned... check out some stuff by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, he has several winter scenes done as paintings and egravings. I remember sleds in a couple, but not sure what ones... maybe the painting 'numbering at bethleham' (not sure I spelled that right, and it might be census rather than numbering); and theres an engraving which I think might have a sled in it, but I can never remember the whole name. all I remember of it is that its ice skating in front of some city gate --- though on that one I think the sled might be something like a three legged stool on its side rather than a sled... wish I had my books here.

This is what the two sleds I'm ironing are based on, from the Orvis catalog. I'm probably putting scrolls in place of the ducks heads. I promised the woodworker not to put dragon or serpent heads on it.



Like I said, not medieval, but you can see the ancestry; and I do like the challenge. (How many other blacksmiths can add "ironed two sleds" to their resume these days?)

Maybe not European, but there are the sleds used by the Inuit. Two solid plank runners shod with bone strips, and mud and water (ice) coating replenished as required.