CIRCA: 1950’s (dated 1958)
Striking Finnish ryijy by Tellervo Strommer (1926 – 2017), entitled Loitsu (or ‘Spell’ in English) and made in 1958 at Kotiteollisuusopisto (in English, ‘College of Home Industry’) in Hämeenlinna, Finland. The first ryijy / rya’s originated in the early fifteenth century as coarse, heavy covers used by mariners instead of furs. From the late 1700’s onwards the rugs evolved to be lighter and more colourful and to become more traditionally used as bed or ‘sofa’ covers, and also to being displayed on a wall or floor. They can be seen as traditional Scandinavian wool ‘rugs’ and have a long pile – often ‘shaggy’ – and usually between 2.5cm to 5cm (1 to 2 inches) in length. Rich saturated red dyed abrashed ‘pillars’ enclose a central white/grey abrashed field. This handmade ryijy has wool warp and weft with a shaggy wool pile and uses a form of the Ghiordes knot to make the double-sided pile fabric. In Excellent condition.