I’m not only interested in Frida Hansen and her wool open warp transparent tapestries, but also in transparencies made by her followers. Hansen was a teacher and mentor and her inventive transparencies were inspiring to others. There are references in many sources to weavers of transparencies, including Jullik Gulbrandsen, Titti Karsten, Annette Schirmer, and more. But in each case there are only a few documented examples. It would be fun to identify more. When older transparencies show up at auction, the names of the designers and weavers are often unknown.
Here is a wool transparent portiere by Jullik Gulbrandsen (1876-1950) held by the Nasjonalmuseet. Frida Hansen’s influences echo in the roses, birds, and vase imagery.
Recently a set of portieres by Gulbrandsen came up for auction through Blomqvist’s. Pretty and interesting, but the practical side of me said, “Oh, you don’t have a place to display them.” Nor an extra $800-$1000 to buy them, as the estimated sale price indicated. I didn’t check the listing until many days later, and discovered they sold for only about $420. I realized it would be so wonderful and important to have a historical transparency for my own collection and for my workshops and lectures. And these were by a known weaver/designer, no less. Why hadn’t I bid on them? What was I thinking?
Then a single portiere came up for sale. It’s not by a known designer, but nicely woven and a pleasing design.
I bid on it, and I got it! I can’t wait to see it in person and to examine the weft and warp (which looks very tightly twisted) close-up. I wonder how long it will take to arrive – and how much the shipping will cost from Norway. I’m still waiting to hear.
It will be so much fun to share a historical transparency weaving in addition to my own pieces in coming workshops. Merry Christmas to me.
Merry Christmas! It’s beautiful!!