Rögnvaldur Sigrnundsson gullsmiður í Fagradal

Abstract

Rognvaldur Sigmundsson, goldsmith at Fagridalur in Dalasýsla, Iceland, was one of those Icelanders of the 19th century who went to Copenhagen and learned the Trade of goldsmithry. He was born 1810 and died 1871. In the year 1828 he arrives at Copenhagen and becomes apprentice with Henrik Holm, a master in the Trade of goldsmithry. He received a certificate in 1832 and in that year he went to Iceland where he became farmer and goldsmith. He is shown as first- rate goldsmith through various objects known to be of his making. Among things from his hand there exist two big cups of silver from the year 1828, an unusual produce among Icelandic silversmiths, a big soup spoon, spoons and a snuff-horn of excellent make which is in walrus tusk and furnished with silver mounts. Most of these objects are in the National Museum of Iceland but some are private property.

Most of the objects which are known to be of his making are fashioned for the same people, the Rev. Eggert Jónsson of Ballará in Dalasýsla and his wife GuSrún Magnúsdóttir. They were wealthy people who cherished beautiful things and their home has possessed much silver. In Dalasýsla there were relatively more goldsmiths than in any other part of Iceland during the 19th century. This has no doubt been due to the fact that the district had at that time wealthy homes and families who had silver objects of good quality made for themselves. There working in silver even went down in families and it was not unusual that son learned from father. Silversmithry, however, was only an extra occupation, the main trade was always agriculture.