Tinsmíði jewelry

Like any tourist market, Iceland's is flooded with mass-market products manufactured on the other side of the world under questionable conditions.

That's why I was delighted to meet Hafdís, a jewelry designer who handcrafts engraved metal pieces in a small red house on the harbor in the charming town of Borgarnes (which has so far escaped the appetite of property developers).

Hafdís and her husband Óli bought a craftsman's stock of equipment with a delightfully vintage look, which allows metal to be melted into silicone molds before being allowed to cool.

In addition to sports medals for local associations, Hafdís makes necklaces and keyrings with motifs drawn from Viking symbolism, including the famous "helm of awe", the top lucky charm, capable of protecting against fears, giving courage and strength, as well as the "hammer of Thor", the latter being the God of thunder.

Hafdis details the manufacturing process:

"We start by melting the pewter in a kind of large pot. It melts at about 230°C and then we pour it into the mold. When the metal pieces have cooled, I scrape them and prepare them for the drum, where they stay for about an hour to make them smooth. We then wash them under running water and place them in an oxidant to give them depth. For patination, we place the metal pieces in a drum with steel balls for about 15 to 20 minutes, then wash them again under running water and dry them with a soft cloth. Each piece is then manually mounted on a lace for necklaces and a ring for key rings."