In the winter of 2022, it felt as though everything had been put on pause.The focus that should have gone into orders and production was constantly drawn instead to thoughts of what was happening to Ukrainian colleagues.
Piece by piece, things were almost unconsciously brought out in the forge: a part from another project, a component from an old machine. There was no longer any choice but to forge in solidarity. This iron version of a Ukrainian flower crown, part of traditional Ukrainian costume, was created during those shocking first months of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Linnea Lindgren, also known by her company name Ferrum Borealis, is a Swedish master blacksmith and teacher of the blacksmithing programme at Sätergläntan – Institute for Craft and Handwork. Her work ranges from historical replicas to modern ironwork, often inspired by nature, wordplay, and Art Nouveau.
About Blacksmiths Without Borders
”The Swedish blacksmithing world has so many connections to Ukraine. Many blacksmiths I know have been there for forging festivals; there has been singing, forging together, and laughter. And suddenly we were faced with a reality where we did not even know if our contacts were still alive. Then the only right thing to do was to reach out to our colleagues and ask how we could help.”
Out of the commitment Linnea describes, the movement Blacksmiths Without Borders was born. It began as a completely private initiative, where individual Swedish blacksmiths contacted Ukrainian colleagues to find out what was needed, and then asked around and sent welding electrodes, boots, knitted socks, cars, and anything else required at the moment.
Today, Blacksmiths Without Borders does exactly the same thing, but as a non-profit association, and since April 2022 has contributed around 150 vehicles, raised three million SEK, and delivered various goods worth five million SEK.
Please help if you can! Read more about Blacksmiths Without Borders.
