Skíðblaðnir: A Ship That Folds Away

43. Ivaldi’s sons went in days of old Skidbladnir to form, of ships the best, for the bright Frey, Niörd’s benign son.

“Skidbladner is the best of ships, and is made with the finest workmanship; but Naglfare, which is in Muspel, is the largest. Some dwarfs, the sons of Ivalde, made Skidbladner and gave it to Frey. It is so large that all the asas, with their weapons and war-gear, can find room on board it, and as soon as the sails are hoisted it has fair wind, no matter whither it is going. When it is not wanted for a voyage, it is made of so many pieces and with so much skill, that Frey can fold it together like a napkin and carry it in his pocket.”

Grímnismál says that the sons of Ívaldi made Skíðblaðnir long ago, the best of ships, for Freyr, son of Njörðr, and a later stanza lists it again as the best of ships.

Gylfaginning gives more. Asked about the ship, Hár says it is the best of ships and the best made, though Naglfar, which is in Muspell, is the largest. Dwarfs, the sons of Ívaldi, made it and gave it to Freyr. All the Æsir with their weapons fit aboard, the ship has a fair wind as soon as the sails are set, and it folds up like a cloth to be carried in a pocket.

Skáldskaparmál has a different route. Loki goes to the sons of Ívaldi, who make the ship together with Sif’s hair and Odin’s spear. Loki gives it to Freyr when the gods judge the dwarfs’ treasures, and repeats its fair wind and its folding.

Thorpe’s glossary connects the name with words for a lath, shingle or wooden billet. That is only a guess about a name the sources do not explain.

The makers, the sons of Ívaldi, have their own entry (see The Sons of Ivaldi). Two accounts of how the ship reached the gods exist: Gylfaginning has the dwarfs give it straight to Freyr, while Skáldskaparmál has Loki carry it from them to the gods.

Naglfar, the largest ship, belongs to Muspell and is a different vessel. This entry is listed under Nidavellir because dwarfs made the ship; the sources do not place the makers or the workshop, and Freyr’s ownership does not tie the ship to Vanaheim or Álfheim.