Anne Grete Krogstad was in my workshop this September at the Norsk Folkemuseum in Oslo. I had already communicated with Anne Grete, because she told me about a set of parrot transparent tapestries that are in the Trogstad Bygdemuseum. They were designed by Julie [Jullik] Gulbrandsen in the wool open warp transparent tapestry technique made famous by Frida Hansen. Gulbrandsen’s parrot pattern was popular! I’ve seen several versions, which are detailed in another post, “Parrots Galore.”
Many times old transparent tapestries turn up and there are no records of the designer or weaver. In this case we know the designer and the weaver. They were woven by Johanne Sælleg around 1920.
When Anne Grete came to class, she knew what she wanted to weave–a section of the parrot tapestry she knows well.
She even spun her own warp yarn. There is an American phrase for someone who comes with deep experience already. I think it relates to Anne Grete’s weaving: “this was not her first rodeo.” She added in beautiful shading in the round shapes (berries? fruit?), just like the museum tapestry.
She recently sent photos of the completed piece.
Frida Hansen developed her open warp technique in 1897 (128 years ago). She inspired other designers, like Julie Gulbrandsen (1876-1950), whose parrots were woven many times. Johanne Sællig wove a set of Gulbrandsen’s parrot tapestries in 1920, and they in turn inspired Anne Grete Krogstad to try the technique 105 years later. I think Frida would be pleased!