Cover thumbnail 1
Cover thumbnail 2
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Not currently on display at the V&A

Cover

1870-1900 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Cover, tapestry-woven and brocaded in coloured wools on linen warps (weaving techniques called 'rölakan' and halvkrabba' in Swedish). There are five horizontal bands of varying width all filled with zigzag devices in bright colours, and separated by stripes. At the top and bottom are two narrower bands containing a row of hexagons in yellow.


Object details

Category
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Cover
  • Cover
  • Cover
  • Cover
Materials and techniques
Tapestry woven and brocaded in wools on linen warp
Brief description
Cover, interlocked tapestry woven in coloured wools on linen warp, Skåne, 1870-1900
Physical description
Cover, tapestry-woven and brocaded in coloured wools on linen warps (weaving techniques called 'rölakan' and halvkrabba' in Swedish). There are five horizontal bands of varying width all filled with zigzag devices in bright colours, and separated by stripes. At the top and bottom are two narrower bands containing a row of hexagons in yellow.
Object history
These four pieces have probably originally been used as cushion covers for benches or carriages, or as bed cover. There are traces of stitch marks and linen thread along one of the long side.
Historical context
The ligthting design was very popular throughout Scania, in a variety of forms and colours. The design is universally found on interlocked tapestries; "blixtrölakan". Its beautiful zigzagging spectrum of colours made it a very popular design. It is also referred to as a 'crest', 'water' or 'tufted duck' design.
'Halvkrabba' is a Swedish term for a brocaded tabby with the pattern weft floating across the whole pattern motif, tied down along its outline by the ground weft picks, one or several, which are shuttled in between the inlays. The pattern units in 'halvkrabba' are small squares combined ina checkerboard pattern. Usually found in combination with other techniques, used especially in coverlets, bench runners and bed curtains.
The Association of Friends of Textile Art (Handarbetets Vänner) was formed in 1874, "in patriotic spirit and alignment promote the textile craft in Sweden". The Association established a pattern studio and distributed assignments to weavers all over the country.
Production
Made in south-east Skåne (Scania), possibly by Handarbetets Vänner (The Association of Friends of Textile Art)
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
17 to C-1903

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Record createdMarch 10, 2003
Record URL
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