The Stove Maker’s House – Hantverksgatan 1

A Street of Traditional Crafts

In the early 1800s, there was hardly any industry to speak of in Hjo – but there was no shortage of skilled craftsmen. In 1805, there were 43 master craftsmen in town, representing 18 different trades. Many of them worked in the courtyards along this charming cobbled street.

Here you would have found leather dressers, rope makers, pewter casters, coppersmiths – and of course, Hjalmar Hallberg, the stove maker. He lived here in Kakelugnsmakargården with his daughter Anna, who was once considered the prettiest girl in Hjo. People called her “Beautiful Anna.”

Facts about the Stove Maker’s House

Hjo is known for its unusually high number of buildings clad in hand-planed wooden panelling. When timber houses first began to be panelled, there were no machines to produce smooth or profiled boards – everything had to be done by hand. In the 1860s and 1870s, steam power arrived, making large-scale planing possible.

Here at the Stove Maker’s House, all façades are covered in hand-planed panelling. The style used is called double rebate panelling, with roughly 15 mm between the boards to create a shadow effect. Two types of moulding can be seen: a cyma profile and a ridge profile. The width of the boards also varies greatly – from 7 to 33 cm.

Looking for these uneven board widths is the easiest way to identify hand-planed panelling. If the façade is painted with a thin coat, you might also spot long plane marks and minor irregularities around the knots – further proof of craftsmanship done by hand.

Self-Guided Tour

Take a stroll and explore the historical architecture and craftsmanship of Hjo at your own pace.

Quick Facts

• Number of stops: 17

• What to do: At each stop/sign, scan the QR code

• Starting point: Any stop

• What you need: Mobile phone and QR code scanner

• Duration: Around 1 hour

• Walking distance: Approx. 1.5 km

• Season: All year round

• Price: FREE