Henning Engelsen was born on February 5, 1918, in Sandefjord, a coastal city in Vestfold, Norway. His professional life became associated with Toten in eastern Norway, where he established the workshop that developed into the HENNING family enterprise.
Engelsen began his woodcarving career in 1947 in a small workshop on Toten and founded the woodcarving company HENNING. The workshop was later associated with Tømmerholshøgda near Kapp, an area of Østre Toten where the family business continues to present Norwegian woodcarving traditions.
His production included hundreds of carved figures inspired by animal life, mythology, and Norwegian folklore. During the 1950s and 1960s, HENNING expanded into one of the leading enterprises in the Norwegian souvenir market and exported figurines internationally. More than 25 craftsmen worked in his studio during the company's growth, and Engelsen directed HENNING until 1988.
Founded the HENNING woodcarving workshop on Toten in 1947 and developed it into a family enterprise devoted to carved figures based on Norwegian animal life, mythology, and folklore.
Built HENNING into a major Norwegian souvenir producer during the 1950s and 1960s, with an international export market and a studio employing more than 25 craftsmen.
Engelsen's artistic program centered on carved figures intended to express joy and humanity. His subjects connected everyday animal life with Norwegian myths and folklore, linking commercial woodcraft with recognizable elements of the country's cultural tradition.
Henning Engelsen was married to Ingrid Gullerud. They had three daughters: Christl Engelsen, Angelina Engelsen, and Elena Engelsen. Angelina became a sculptor, while Elena became a sculptor and was married to the sculptor and graphic artist Per Ung.
The HENNING workshop continued through the family after Engelsen's retirement. His daughters Angelina and Christl, together with his son-in-law Bjarne Espedal, were associated with the continuation of the enterprise and its production.
She was associated with the continuation of the HENNING family workshop.
She is a Norwegian sculptor who works in wood, bronze, and concrete and was associated with the continuation of the HENNING family workshop.
She became a sculptor and was also known as Elena Ung.
He was associated with the continuation of the HENNING family workshop.
He was a Norwegian sculptor and graphic artist married to Elena Engelsen.
