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Sverre's Viking Longship Incense Holder
Sverre's Viking Longship Incense Holder
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Sverre's Viking Longship Incense Holder
The last fleet · Franklin, Tasmania
Carved by hand on the Huon River since 1979
Sverre Nygaard, 78, has carved more than 6,000 little Viking longships in his boat shed. His shoulder won’t let him hold the knife any more, and the shed has been sold. These are his last 340.
“I carved the first one for my wife, because I didn’t like the ash on the table. She put it on the sideboard and said every home needs a ship. After that, the whole street wanted one.”
Sverre Nygaard · Boatbuilder & carver, Franklin, Tasmania
What arrives at your door
Incense sticks are not included. The ship holds one stick at a time.
What makes Sverre’s longship different
The dragon rises at the bow with its mouth open, finished in copper. It is the first thing everybody picks the ship up to look at.
A row of round shields runs along the rail, red and blue, one brushstroke at a time. No stickers, no printing.
Sverre drills the hole at an angle, so the stick leans out over the hull instead of over your furniture.
As the stick burns down, the ash falls into the hull. When it has cooled, tip it out and the ship is ready for the next evening.
The overlapping planks of a real Viking ship are carved into both sides of the hull, so the wood grain runs along every line.
During the day it simply sits on the shelf or mantelpiece like a small piece of folk art. Many owners keep two: one to light, one to look at.
How to use it
Find it a harbour. Set the ship on a flat, heat-safe surface – a sideboard, mantelpiece or shelf, away from curtains and anything that can catch fire.
Light one stick. Push an incense stick into the hole in the stern, light the tip, let it catch and gently blow out the flame. The smoke drifts up over the bow.
Tip out the ash. Once the ash has cooled, turn the ship over the bin and wipe the hull with a dry cloth. That’s all the care it needs.
A moulded holder vs. Sverre’s longship
| Typical moulded holder | Sverre’s longship | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Cast resin or plastic | Hand-carved wood |
| Shields & dragon | Printed or sprayed | Painted by hand |
| Where the ash goes | Often on the table | Into the hull |
| How it’s made | Thousands an hour | One at a time, for hours |
| Without incense | A gadget | A small piece of folk art |
“The longship is one of the few things Norwegian families brought out to Australia that survived three or four generations. In old Tasmanian homes you still find little carved ships on mantelpieces, handed down from grandparents who came by sea. What Sverre does is rare now: he carves the hull the way boatbuilders did, with the planks running along the grain, and he paints the shields by hand. You can tell the difference the moment you hold one.”
Ingeborg Lund · Curator · 26 years caring for maritime and migrant collections at a heritage museum in southern Tasmania
Made by hand in Franklin
Every ship starts as a rough block of wood on the bench in Sverre’s boat shed, a few steps from the water. He shapes the hull with the same chisels he has used since the seventies, carves the planks and the curled stern, drills the stern hole at an angle and paints every shield by hand. A final rub of oil, a last check in the window light, and the ship goes on the shelf. His grandchildren Kirsten and Lachlan pack and ship every order.
“A ship should be used,” Sverre says. “Light a stick on a quiet evening, watch the smoke go over the dragon, and think of somebody you miss. That’s what Astrid did with the first one.”
– Sverre
Perfect for
Sverre’s standard
- Hand-carved wood. Shaped one ship at a time, never pressed from a mould.
- Painted by hand. Every shield and the copper-finish dragon, brushstroke by brushstroke.
- Drilled at an angle. So the ash falls into the hull, not onto your furniture.
- Stands steady. A flat keel line that sits firmly on a shelf or mantelpiece.
- Checked twice. Sverre looks every ship over before Kirsten and Lachlan pack it.
If Sverre’s longship doesn’t win you over, one email to info@cedarandtinco.com is enough. Send it back within 90 days and you get your money back. Every order is dispatched within 1–2 business days.
Good to know: Every ship is carved and painted by hand, so the wood grain and the shields differ slightly from piece to piece. No two are exactly alike. Burning incense should never be left unattended. Keep it away from children, pets and anything flammable, and let the ash cool before you empty the hull.
Product details
| Contents | 1 hand-carved Viking longship incense holder |
| Material | Hand-carved wood, hand-painted shields, copper-finish dragon head |
| Size | 26.2 cm long · 8.7 cm tall at the dragon · 5.6 cm tall at the stern (10.3 × 3.4 × 2.2 in) |
| Holds | 1 incense stick (not included) |
| Use | Indoors, on a flat, heat-safe surface |
| Care | Tip out cooled ash, wipe with a dry cloth, keep away from water |
| Made by | Sverre Nygaard, Franklin, Tasmania – last fleet, 340 remaining |
| Made so far | More than 6,000 since 1979 |
The Final Sale
The Final Sale
Message from Sverre:
My shoulder won’t hold a carving knife any more, and on 30 January the new owners get the keys to the house and the boat shed. Since 1979 I have carved more than 6,000 of these little ships by hand, one at a time, on the bench by the Huon River. About 340 are left on the shelves. Nothing rushed. Nothing outsourced.
I would rather see them on mantelpieces than in a moving box in Brisbane. Kirsten and Lachlan will pack every one of them.
When they are gone, they are gone — there won’t be another fleet.
Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Free shipping across Australia
- Dispatched within 1–2 business days
- Delivery time: 3–6 business days
- Insured: every parcel is fully insured
🌳 Carbon-neutral shipping
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question? Here's how to reach us.
Got a question? Here's how to reach us.
My grandkids Kirsten and Lachlan and I personally reply to every single email — as fast as we possibly can. Whether you have a question about your order or just want to talk boats, we’re here.
You can reach us:
- Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (AEST)
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (AEST)
Email: info@cedarandtinco.com
Can I return my order if I don't like it?
Can I return my order if I don't like it?
Of course. We stand behind everything on Cedar & Tin Co. 100%. If you're not happy, neither are we. Just shoot us an email within 90 days and we'll make it right — no hassle, no headaches.
How are your products made?
How are your products made?
Every single product on Cedar & Tin is 100% handmade — crafted by hand, using only premium quality materials. We're proud to carry on a tradition of craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations.