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2025
Waltraud's
rune tombstone
a runestone as a tombstone
Carved on Adelsö.
Erected in a cemetery in Västerås.
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To raise a runestone over oneself or
over a relative is historically a Nordic tradition. It
is less common today, although it is increasingly
common. When Bianka and Rolf
promised their mother and mother-in-law a runestone as a
gravestone on the day she passed away, it was I, Kalle
Runristare, who was given the assignment.
And this is how the work went.
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The runestone subject is made of the
finest granite from Vånga in Skåne, southern Sweden. The
stone was hand-picked directly from the mountain and
shaped partly by itself and partly according to wishes
to follow the cemetery's rules.
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In December 2024, it arrived at
Adelsö as a complete package with runestone subject,
foundation and steel pipes to comply with the rules that
apply to avoid accidents after the runestone has been
erected.
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One early spring day it was time to
start carving Waltraud's runestone. The approved
ornamentation had been sketched out and the tools were
ready, the work could begin.
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Just as the work began, a transport
arrived with the next project, a really large runestone
subject weighing over 3000 kg, a subject made of the
same fine granite and from the same rock as the one I am
currently working on. But this project will have to rest
a bit and wait its turn. The
video clip above shows my chisel marks clearly in
close-up and also a nice view of the runestone park, my
workplace. The pictures to the right of the clip also
show the chisel marks extra clearly if you click on
them.
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At the beginning of May, the
ornamentation was finished except for a short piece in
front of the dragon's nose. I'll wait with that piece
until the runes outside, closer to the edge, have been
carved.
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| By the end of June, all the runes
were carved, as well as the name, the years and the
little extra detail of a carved imprint from a dog's
paw.
The paw print is the same as
Waltraud's dog Gina, which she left behind when she
passed away. The dog Gina was a female Giant Schnauzer.
The paw print will now accompany Waltraud's memory far
into the future.
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How did I get the exact right
paw print?
Quite simple if the paw is dirty and is allowed
to walk on a white piece of paper. The print is
then cut out and used as a template.
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Here the runestone is painted
with colors but something is missing, my
signature.
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Now the signature is there
but without color...
It will eventually get the same color as the
stone, it will be there but not attract
attention. |
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