Lot 60
CARL JOHAN TRYGG (Swedish/Canadian, 1887-1954)
Additional Images
Provenance:
Private collection, British Columbia
Note:
A master of 20th century wood carving, Carl Johan Trygg was known for his works in the Scandinavian flat-plane style. Working with his three sons, Trygg is estimated to have carved over 10,000 figures.
Born in 1887 in Skagershult, Närke, Örebro county, Sweden, to a family of nine, Trygg left home at the age of twelve. He would hold a series of jobs while pursuing his carving as a way to supplement his income. In 1915, Trygg exhibited his work in Stockholm, Sweden, the success of which allowed him to pursue carving full time. In 1928, Trygg and his family emigrated, ultimately settling in Montreal, Quebec. The workshop they established serviced the tourist trade, producing vibrantly painted carvings made from basswood or pine.