Duodji - hvem eier kunnskapen og verkene?

Dovddus govvadáiddár Nils Nilsson Skum lei maiddái duojár. Su
niibehápmi lea mihtilmas, ja son geavaha buorremealgadii seamma
govvosiid (motiivvaid) su čoarvedujiin go su govain. Dán niibbi ja
dohpa lea duddjon 1939. Niibi ja dohppa lea priváhta oamastusas.
Kniv av den kjente billedkunstneren Nils Nilsson Skum.
Knife by the famous artist Nils Nilsson Skum.
© Gunvor Guttorm.
as we see with knife handles and sheaths.
The large antler sheaths that have been
preserved in museums and that the Samis
still produce today show that when people
started making these sheaths, it became a
challenge to utilise the material such that
there was as little waste as possible and
a good shape on the sheath. Sheaths that
are preserved in museums document that
large antler sheaths were quite common
when the Samis started making sheaths
from reindeer antlers (cf. Guttorm, 1993).
For these sheaths, it has not always been
necessary to have large antlers to begin
with; it was possible to put two smaller
antlers together. Both the sheath and shape
of the shaft have changed, such that other
duodji has also changed. These shapes of
the sheaths are often regarded as Sami knife
and sheath shapes, and in today’s terms, we
could almost say that the Sami knives and
sheaths have become trademarks.
Gradually as these shapes of sheaths have become
familiar and popular, other craftsmen
have also discovered these shapes. But the
Samis have never had a “monopoly” on the
shapes, even though we can often read in
books that the shape of the knife sheath is a
Sami shape, or is called a “lappkniv” (Lapp
knife) (in Sweden), “finnkniv” (Finn knife)
(in Norway) or “samekniv” (Sami knife).
Or can a group apply for design protection
on the sheath since it is known as Sami?
Komse (Sami cradle)
Komsa (definite form of komse) is a good
example of duodji that has also long been in
use amongst the Samis. Its form and working
method have been tested and adapted
to a nomadic lifestyle (cf. Guttorm, 1991).
Gradually as this understanding of komsa
has ended up in the background, new values
have arisen. Thus, komsa we see today does
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