Reconstructing the Ship

[Eva Fidjeland]

Eva Fidjeland is a Swedish artist, poet, photographer, and specialist in stained glass (blyinfattat glas or leaded glass), born in Stockholm in 1955. She has a diverse background, having spent parts of her childhood in countries including Portugal, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Iran, which influences her work.
She learned the craft of stained glass in 1978 while living in the artists' village of Ein Hod, Israel, studying under Professor Joseph Chaaltiel.

Upon returning to Sweden, she was commissioned by the Vasa Museum (Vasamuseet) to reconstruct glass details for the Vasa (also known as Regalskeppet Vasa), the famous 17th-century Swedish warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was salvaged in 1961. This reconstruction work occurred around 1990, aligning with the inauguration of the Vasa Museum's new, purpose-built location on Djurgården island in Stockholm that year. The museum, part of the Statens Sjöhistoriska Museum (National Maritime Museums), displays the remarkably preserved ship and includes reconstructed or replicated elements to present it accurately in its historical context.  

Fidjeland's contribution involved recreating specific glass parts (glasdelar or glasdetaljer), likely windows, lanterns, or other translucent/decorative elements from the ship's sterncastle, galleries, or officer quarters. The Vasa was richly ornamented, including painted sculptures and leaded or colored glass features in its elaborate stern decorations, which were heavily damaged or fragmented after centuries underwater. Her expertise in stained glass made her suitable for faithfully replicating these historical details as part of the ship's conservation and display efforts.

This project is listed in her artistic CV and biographies across various artist profiles, directories, and personal websites (e.g., as "Rekonstruktion av glasdelar till Regalskeppet Vasa, Statens Sjöhistoriska Museum - 90"). It represents a key example of her applied work in cultural heritage preservation, combining traditional craftsmanship with historical accuracy.

Beyond this, Fidjeland has created stained glass commissions for public and private buildings (including internationally, such as in Tasmania), exhibited widely in Swedish museums and galleries (e.g., Kalmar Konstmuseum, Vetlanda Museum), and pursued photography, digital art, poetry, and other visual media. She is a member of the Swedish Artists' National Organization (KRO) and has lived/worked in areas like Orrefors and Nybro, known for Swedish glassmaking traditions.                    

https://sites.google.com/view/eva-fidjeland-the-vasa-warship/home