Rare Finnish textile, dated 1936. The intense orange ground is especially unusual for this type of textile and gives the piece a graphic character.
Textile Tradition
The form and decoration resemble a ritual towel, Käspaikka, which belongs to an old textile tradition of Eastern Finland and Karelia. These long embroidered cloths had an important place in domestic and ritual life and were used during ceremonies, prayers and other significant occasions.
The tradition experienced a renewed interest during the early 20th century, when older Karelian patterns and embroidery techniques were actively preserved and recreated in Finland.
Embroidered Symbolism
The ornament combines birds, angular branches and strongly geometric forms. The large central composition may represent a stylised Tree of Life, a motif widely found in traditional northern and eastern European textile art.
Display and Use
Today the textile can be displayed as a wall hanging, placed across a table as a runner, used as a decorative cover, or incorporated into a collection of folk textiles.
Its generous length gives the embroidery enough space to be appreciated as a complete composition.
Details
Origin: Finland Date: 1936 Colour: Orange with dark embroidery Length: 127 cm Width: 46 cm
