Fig. 1103.—Top part of No. 1102. ] [Illustration: Fig. 1104. Chair. 1/13 real size. ] [Illustration: Fig. 1105. ] This carving may be explained by two different interpretations. The woman between the two horsemen may be Brynhild and the ring that which the gods got from the Dverg Andvari for a ransom for Otr, and which he predicted would always bring misfortune to its owner; or she may be Gudrun confiding to the messenger of Atli a ring, warning Gunnar and Högni of their danger. [Illustration: Fig. 1106.—Front view of chair. ] [Illustration: Fig. 1107.—Side view. Chair supposed to have belonged to an old church, in Bö, Norway. ] One of the principal houses was the _skali_, or _eldhús_,[194] an oblong and quadrangular building, with a door at one, sometimes at both ends, intended for daily life and for feasting. [Illustration: Fig. 1108.—Front view. Chair carved with warriors fighting, with helmets on their heads. The helmets are similar to those of the Bayeux tapestry. ] The _skemma_, _dyngja_, _stofa_, and _herbergi_ were separate rooms, or buildings, sometimes used as sleeping apartments, where the women of the household dwelt or remained during the daytime with their maids or attendants, and occupied themselves with all kinds of work.[195] Sometimes the _skemma_ was built away from other houses, and was then called _utskemma_. Where there was a loft the lower room was called _undir-skemma_. In such rooms the light came from window openings, and no fire could be lighted.[196] [Illustration: Fig. 1109.—Side view of chair. Warrior, with open helmet, slaying a dragon—Vaage, Gudbrandsdal, Norway. ] The _stofa_, which was usually occupied by women,[197] was large or small; sometimes it was intended for a sleeping apartment. At the royal residence in Nidaros, St. Olaf built a large _hirdstofa_ (king’s men’s house), with doors at both ends, for meals and general intercourse; a large _svefnskali_ (sleeping house); and also a large _stofa_,[198] in which he held his _hirdstefna_ (king’s men’s meetings). The common entrance led first into the _forstofa_ (lobby), and then into the house proper; both were provided with doors, which could be locked. Sometimes the door was fastened on the inside with a _slagbrand_ (bar). [Illustration: Fig. 1110.—Back view of chair. Warriors fighting on horseback. ] The lofts, which consisted of rooms in the upper part of the _skali_, were frequently used as bedrooms, and were lighted by _loft-glugg_[199] (loft openings). Outside the loft there was, at least on one side, a _svalir_ (balcony),[200] which was reached by an outside stairway. The loft generally had no communication with the _undir-skemma_.