Ottar Andreas Grubbli was born on 18 April 1931 in Grubblia, Varntresk outside Hattfjelldal in Norway. He inherited his talent for woodcarving from his mother. She was a great natural talent and taught herself the craft. Over time, she became a well-known wood artist.
At the age of eight, Ottar also developed an interest in woodcarving, and his mother naturally became his teacher. In the evenings, they would sit together on their small farm in Hattfjelldal, carving the finest figures from birch.
Woodcarving remained Ottar’s great hobby throughout life. In the pictures below we see him carving moose, reindeer, and trolls. He hollows out tree roots to create bowls, and makes knives with animal heads.
One of the distinctive features of Ottar Grubbli’s trolls is their unique characteristics. Often, his trolls are depicted with only one visible eye, adding a touch of mystery to their appearance. Additionally, they almost always have very long thumbs, a signature detail that sets his work apart and reflects his individual artistic style.
His carvings are most commonly stamped “Handmade by Ottar Grubbli Norway“, however, some carvings also bear his full name in pen.
Ottar Grubbli was a member of Årvoll Lions Club for many years. In the photo below, he is selling his own bowls, trolls, and other objects carved from wood at a club exhibition in 1998.
“This is my hobby. Woodcarving is very relaxing. I started at a young age—my mother was a woodcarver, so I learned it from her,” he says. In 1998, Grubbli pursued his hobby in a former sausage stand which he rented at Brobekk (Source: Akers Avis Groruddalen, Wednesday, December 2, 1998).
In later years, Ottar Grubbli and his wife Bjørg were regulars at Årvoll Farm (Årvoll Gård) which functioned as a cultural center run mainly by volunteers, featuring workshops for repairs and sales of handicraft products, a gallery, and a café.
They were always seated with all kinds of homemade goods. It was mostly moose, nisse and trolls Ottar carved in the workshop on their farm, while Bjørg painted and decorated them. “We spend a lot of time making the different items, up to three days. I’d say we’re a really good team,” Bjørg and Ottar say with a smile (Source: Aker’s newspaper Groruddalen, Friday June 18, 2010).
One item Ottar was especially proud of was a broom hanger. “How many do you want? Five? Then I’ll give you a good price,” says the woodcarver, trying to get the newspaper’s reporter to buy broom hangers (Source: Local newspaper Groruddalen (Alna and Bjerke), Thursday 9 September 2010).
Ottar Andreas Grubbli’s woodcarvings remain a testament to his dedication to preserving and celebrating the traditional craft of Norwegian wood artistry.
About the Author
For more articles visit Dayne’s Discoveries Blog, browse our online shop, or contact us to share information, stories, or photographs relating to Ottar Grubbli trolls.
Dayne's Discoveries 