Hanging
1600-1650 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In the 17th and 18th centuries textiles like this hanging were used as bed-coverings or as wall-hangings in prosperous farmhouses in Norway. In almost all cases they depicted Biblical stories, and the Adoration of the Magi was among the most popular. Some are direct copies of illustrations in the first printed bibles, while others are based on the decorative church painting of the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance.
From the top left on this hanging, the pictures are thought to represent The Visitation, The Annunciation and the Adoration of the Magi. Underneath there is an unreadable inscription of which many letters have been woven in reverse. The main picture shows the Feast of King Herod, with Salome dancing and receiving the head of John the Baptist.
From the top left on this hanging, the pictures are thought to represent The Visitation, The Annunciation and the Adoration of the Magi. Underneath there is an unreadable inscription of which many letters have been woven in reverse. The main picture shows the Feast of King Herod, with Salome dancing and receiving the head of John the Baptist.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Dovetail and slit tapestry weave, in wool and linen |
| Brief description | Tapestry woven hanging in polychrome wool on linen warp showing scenes from the Bible. |
| Physical description | Dovetail and slit tapestry woven in polychrome wool on linen warp. The hanging is probably showing scenes from the Bible; The Visitation, The Annunciation and the Adoration of the Magi but the main pictures shows the Feast of King Herod with the Beheading of St John the Baptist in the bottom left. There is a non-decipherable inscription where many letters have been accidently woven in reverse, suggesting woven on a low-warp loom or a faulty cartoon. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'AIS' and a length of non-decipherable inscription. ('AIS' is most likely the initial of the weaver, but there are also cases when they represent the commissioner.) |
| Credit line | Given by the Directors of the Kunstindustrimuseet, Kristiania (now Oslo) |
| Object history | Gudbrandsdalen has been a centre of picture weaving. |
| Production | From Vaage in Gudbrandsdalen. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | In the 17th and 18th centuries textiles like this hanging were used as bed-coverings or as wall-hangings in prosperous farmhouses in Norway. In almost all cases they depicted Biblical stories, and the Adoration of the Magi was among the most popular. Some are direct copies of illustrations in the first printed bibles, while others are based on the decorative church painting of the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance. From the top left on this hanging, the pictures are thought to represent The Visitation, The Annunciation and the Adoration of the Magi. Underneath there is an unreadable inscription of which many letters have been woven in reverse. The main picture shows the Feast of King Herod, with Salome dancing and receiving the head of John the Baptist. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 786-1884 |
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| Record created | February 14, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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