Gudrun
Leather and Fur Crafter • 9th Century
Basic Information
Full Name: Gudrun
Period: 9th Century
Origin: Denmark
Current Status: Leather and fur hide crafter; wife of Sven Freyson
Skills: Leather craft, weaving, cooking
Timeline
Early Life
Raised in Denmark among skilled craftspeople. Learned hide preparation and leather working from family and community.
Marriage
Married Sven Freyson. Together they maintain a household focused on practical crafts and trade.
Present Day
Active in reenactment, demonstrating leatherwork, weaving, and hearth cooking with attention to period methods.
Detailed Narrative
Gudrun is a craftswoman rooted in the traditions of 9th‑century Denmark. From selecting and scraping hides to tanning, shaping, and stitching, she produces durable goods that serve daily life—belts, shoes, pouches, scabbards, and simple furnishings. Her weaving and cooking complete a well‑rounded household economy, shared with her husband, Sven Freyson.
At living‑history events she focuses on demonstrating practical processes: the preparation of rawhide and leather, spindle and loom work, and hearth cookery suited to travel and camp. Her work aims to show how ordinary skills and steady hands supported Viking‑age families and expeditions.