Eistein Kjørn

Eistein Guttormsen Kjørn, a.k.a. Østen Kjørn or Estin Kjørn, (1727–1805) was a Norwegian woodcarver.[1]

Kjørn's altarpiece in Sel Church

Kjørn was born at the Old Sandbu farm in Vågå.[2] He was one of the leading woodcarvers in the Gudbrand Valley. He followed in the footsteps of Jakob Klukstad, whom Kjørn observed while working on the decoration for Heidal Church.[1][2] In addition to woodcarving, Kjørn also wrote poems and psalms in the Vågå dialect, painted religious pictures, and carved soapstone gravestones.[1][2] Kjørn died in Heidal.[2]

Works:

• Modernization of the altarpiece in Vågå Church (1758)[3]
• Kvikne Church: altarpiece and pulpit (1760)[1]
• Svatsum Church: altarpiece (c. 1770), moved to Aulstad Church[1][4]
• Follebu Church: pulpit (c. 1770), wooden carving reused for the new pulpit[1]
• Kvam Church: renovated altarpiece (1776), church burned in 1940[1]
• Hegge Stave Church: altarpiece (1780), transported over the mountains by sled[1]
• Sel Church: altarpiece and chancel screen[1]