Rock Island: Diploma frame with a story

Thordarson's honorary Master of Arts diploma is framed by what appears
to be a story carved in wood by Halldor Einarsson.

- Detroit Harbor, Washington Island

We recently traveled to Northern Europe and began a two-week journey by ship in Stockholm, ending in Oslo.  In between we visited various ports, most of them along the Baltic seacoast.  Our cruise was advertised "On the Trail of Vikings," which for me was an important interest.

One of our Viking Sun presenters spoke about Old Norse and of Futhark, the ancient runes and literature of the Viking era.  I introduced myself to Dr. William Whobrey afterwards.  We met later in the afternoon, and then I showed him several Rock Island photos from my iPad.  I explained the significance of Thordarson, and also the man I believe had carved the oak frame surrounding Thordarson's diploma.  Although it hangs in full view to the right of the large fireplace in the Thordarson boat house on Rock Island,  I'd never paid particular attention to its detail.  At least, not until it was pointed out to me by Icelandic guest Jonas Asgrimsson in June 2018.

I interpreted the carved symbols on the frame as follows:

The child in the cradle at the bottom center (Thordarson) begins life under a shining sun.  He then embarks on two routes (in bare feet) toward achievement of his life's meaning ("X"), at top center.

His life's journey in one direction (to the left) signifies his growth through books, learning from the ideas of others.  The candle above a bookshelf shows both a humble beginning and enlightenment.  Thordarson, in fact, was largely self-taught.

This child prodigy advances in life, accumulating knowledge, and eventually he's recognized as  learned, the mortar board and tassel in the upper left hand corner of the frame symbolizing achievement.

As he advances in life, and prospers, too, his footprints reveal wooden sandals, not bare feet.  And once he receives his diploma - a recognized achievement learning - imprints are made by leather soles with heels, toward his ultimate life meaning at "X."

Do you know what this is?  Would it be a medieval crest
worn by a guild master?  Or something similar?

     

But, Thordarson's growth benefitted equally from hands-on experimentation as much as from books.

He tinkered, invented and manufactured.  He proved his ideas in the physical world and soon masters electricity (he holds the bolt of lightning in his fist).  Then he works his way upward in a poor man's footwear, wooden shoes, toward further achievement.  


At the upper right hand corner is a symbol that I believe is the equivalent of a Middle Ages guild hat or stole, sign of having achieved prominence by doing.

We know that Thordarson won several medals through his exhibits at the World's Fair in St. Louis, and at the Panama-Pacific Exhibition in San Fransisco.  He was noted for such achievements.

I have not been able to positively identify the particular symbol of the upper right corner.  Nor have I obtained a positive answer from anyone, so far.   If you have insight into what this symbol is, please let me know!

The carving details and the cleverness of the story as revealed in the elements, I am convinced, were the work of Icelandic wood carver Halldor Einarsson.  He, of course, was responsible for the Norse-mythology carvings that embellish Thordarson's furniture, and I believe, the runic symbols over the fire place hearth.  But for whatever reasons, this diploma frame has escaped previous attention.

And now, moving on to a further question, one that I was able to receive help with from Dr. William Whobrey.  Upon my return home, I emailed him an improved photo of the baby in the cradle, with tiny rune characters carved into the footboard.  What could those runes tell us?

He responded:

      "It's taken quite a bit of work, but I think I've deciphered and translated the saying on the cradle.  The runes are from the Younger Futhark, which has quite a bit of variation.  Here is the transcription:

              MATINN AF MONNUM VITRUM MISSKILINN OFT IF HINUM

"In Icelandic, this means something like: "The food of wise men is often misunderstood by others."   That's rather prosaic, but perhaps you can imagine a more poetic version.  I hope this solves the mystery of the cradle's proverb.  All the best."



I then forwarded this to friends Almar Grimsson and Lydur Palsson in Iceland for their input.

Almar wrote back with a suggestion to change two letters, so that it would read in Icelandic:

        METINN AF MONNUM VITRUM MISSKILINN OFT AF HINUM

Lydur, Museum Director in Eyrarbakki, wrote:  "Matinn af monnum vitrum misskilionn oft af hinum" is not everyday talk here in Iceland!

So, dear readers, any thoughts?

I think the proverb aptly applies to Thordarson, the "wise man."  He was fed, and grew, by doing and by reading, along paths not always understood by others.   Too simple an explanation?

Here is a color photo of the frame, one that better shows the tiny footprints carved by Einarsson.

- Dick Purinton