Our vase story today, ‘Draupnir‘ tells the tale of dwarven headhunters, a father’s love, the ultimate wealth multiplier, and a journey to hell and back. It’s about a gift, made in response to a wager, that almost cost a trickster his head.
Forged in fire, Draupnir was one of three gifts which also included the Mjollnir and the Gullinbursti. They were created by dwarves, Brokkr and Sindri, as part of a wager with Loki. Loki made a bet that they could not make better gifts than the Sons of Ivaldi.
Loki must have lost his head, betting against the brothers. He was very wrong, and this was no small wager.
The dwarven brothers may have won the contest because of the Mjollnir (Thor’s Hammer), but the Draupnir was literally worth it’s weight in gold – actually eight times it’s weight in gold!
It was time for Loki to pay up and he had wagered his head. But as usual Loki had a trick up his sleeve. He argued that in order for the brothers to take his head they would need to injure his neck and that wasn’t part of the bargain.
The dwarves discussed, and settled for sewing his lips together with wire.
Perhaps just to shut him up.
‘Draupnir’, old Norse for The Dripper, was no slouch of a gift. It was a golden arm ring with a special ability: every nine days it would drip out eight new arm rings of the same weight and quality of gold!
Move over Michael Bloomberg, that’s quite a return on investment!
This arm ring would become a prized possession of Odin’s, but in the ultimate act of a father’s love Odin placed it on the funeral pyre of his son Baldr.
But the rings story does not end here.
In the land of death, Baldr would give the ring to the messenger god Hermodr, who would ultimately return it to Odin.
A circular journey to Hell and back rings true for ‘Draupnir‘ – but if you buy this vase, please don’t return it to me.
It’ll be yours. I insist.
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If you liked this story, you can find many others like it in our first book “A Potter’s Dream: Myths & Legends” now on sale for $23.
Ha! Ha! Enjoyed the story and loved your final sentence. 😊
What a great story. And the vase absolutely fits, IMHO.
Beautiful
Thank you for your kind compliment. I hope you are keeping well.
Gorgeous!
Enjoy reading the mythology too
Thank you for your kind words, Trey. I hope you are keeping well.
Wow…. another gorgeous work of art. The colours!! 💓
This is gorgeous and I LOVE the story behind it! 🙂 Thanks for sharing! I’ll look into your book too!
Thank you, Kelly Ann! Please let me know if I may be of any assistance whatsoever. Have a great day!
I sure will and I hope you have a good one too!
Love this piece – the colors and glow are beautiful.
Thank you for your kind words, Valerie! I hope you are keeping safe and well.
Beautiful vase! Love Norse mythology, too!
I like the choice of glaze colors with the cratered texture- makes me think of octopus sucker marks- I think Dali used those in a painting once 🤔- anyway- Bonne travail 👍👌
Keep it up with the Norse mythology! I’m lovin’ it. (badabambamba)
<3 the colors on this one
Amazing!! 💯 Really loved it thanks!
Beautiful work
I love the story and your stories make your creations that much more meaningful. The vase has a rustic look to it and is gorgeous
Gorgeous work! The shapes in the glaze fit well with the story of rings and hellish journeys!
I really enjoyed this story. Of course, trust Loki to always have some trick or the other up his sleeve!
oh very much! its definitely his thing 🙂
I really enjoyed the story.
Thank you, Kyle. I am so glad to hear it, and I hope you are keeping well.
a lovely story; I enjoyed reading it 🙂
As a fantasy/mythology nerd from way back I loved the story, beautiful work too. It’s inspirational to see someone finding meaning in their art. Good stuff:)
How interesting! And definitely a firey looking vase