Elsa Barbro "Barbara" Ekenberg (1717–25 May 1799), was the owner and manager of a coffeehouse in Stockholm in 1772–99. She was a figure in the work of

Carl Michael Bellman Carl Michael Bellman (; 4 February 1740 – 11 February 1795) was a Swedish songwriter, composer, musician, poet and entertainer. He is a central figure in the Swedish song tradition and remains a powerful influence in Swedish music, as well ...

, who dedicated to her one of his ''

Fredman's Epistles ''Fredmans epistlar'' (English: ''Fredman's Epistles'') is List of Fredman's Epistles, a collection of 82 poems set to music by Carl Michael Bellman, a major figure in Sweden, Swedish 18th century song. Though first published in 1790, it was cre ...

'', No. 9 " Käraste Bröder Systrar och Vänner", with the dedication ''Till Gumman på Thermopolium Boreale och hennes jungfrur'' ('To the Old woman of the Thermopolium Boreale and her maidens').

Biography

Barbara Ekenberg managed a coffeehouse after the death of her spouse, Carl Ekenberg, and made it a popular and well-frequented establishment in

Gustavian era The History of Sweden from 1772 through 1809 is better known as the Gustavian era of Kings Gustav III and Gustav IV, as well as the reign of King Charles XIII of Sweden. Gustav III Adolf Frederick of Sweden died on 12 February 1771. The ...

Stockholm. Her house was known for the innovation of banning smoking, which was a problem in the rest of the coffeehouses, where the smoke was often so thick as to cause breathing problems.Du Rietz, Anita, Kvinnors entreprenörskap: under 400 år, 1. uppl., Dialogos, Stockholm, 2013 Bellman described her as squinting and fat but her "maidens" as beautiful, and her house widely known for its music and merry atmosphere. In his song ''

Fredman's Epistle ''Fredmans epistlar'' (English: ''Fredman's Epistles'') is List of Fredman's Epistles, a collection of 82 poems set to music by Carl Michael Bellman, a major figure in Sweden, Swedish 18th century song. Though first published in 1790, it was cre ...

no. 9'', dedicated to Ekenberg, he wrote:

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ekenberg, Barbara 1717 births 1799 deaths 18th-century Swedish businesswomen Gustavian era people

Biography

See also

References