Johanne Bindesbøll cushion Thorvaldsens Museum

Karen Johanne Bindesbøll (1851–1934) was a Danish

textile artist Textile arts are arts and crafts that use plant, animal, or synthetic fibers to construct practical or decorative objects. Textiles have been a fundamental part of human life since the beginning of civilization. The methods and materials u ...

who specialized in

embroidery Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. In modern days, embroidery is usually seen on c ...

. Together with Kristiane Konstantin-Hansen, from 1873 she ran a retail business in

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...

, selling embroidered goods and training young women to sew. The business proved to be highly successful over the next 30 years, attracting custom from individuals, churches and schools, and receiving several international awards. It closed in 1903 to enable Bindesbøll and her colleague Konstantin-Hansen to create large tapestries for

Frederiksborg Castle Frederiksborg Castle ( da, Frederiksborg Slot) is a palatial complex in Hillerød, Denmark. It was built as a royal residence for King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway in the early 17th century, replacing an older castle acquired by Frederick II ...

Biography

Born on 5 January 1851 in

Aarhus Aarhus (, , ; officially spelled Århus from 1948 until 1 January 2011) is the second-largest city in Denmark and the seat of Aarhus Municipality. It is located on the eastern shore of Jutland in the Kattegat sea and approximately northwest ...

, Karen Johanne Bindesbøll was the daughter of the

Golden Age The term Golden Age comes from Greek mythology, particularly the ''Works and Days'' of Hesiod, and is part of the description of temporal decline of the state of peoples through five Ages of Man, Ages, Gold being the first and the one during ...

architect Michael Gottlieb Birckner Bindesbøll (1800–56) and Andrea Frederikke Andersen (1819–99). She was brought up in an architectural environment in which decorative art and textiles played an important part. She was taught drawing and embroidery at home, frequently with the help of the artistic women who came to visit. After her father's early death, it became necessary for Johanne and her elder sister Maria (1849–1915) to develop their sewing skills as a means of earning an income. Her younger brother, Thorvald (1846–1908), who became a designer and an architect, often prepared their designs and patterns. The family continued to enjoy close contacts with the cultural families of the day, especially those who befriended the painter

P.C. Skovgaard Peter Christian Thamsen Skovgaard (known as P. C. Skovgaard; 4 April 1817 – 13 April 1875) was a Danish national romantic landscape painter. He is one of the main figures associated with the Golden Age of Danish Painting. He is especially known ...

. Together with Konstantin-Hansen, in 1873 she opened a business on

Købmagergade Købmagergade is a pedestrian shopping street in the Old Town of Copenhagen, Denmark. It connects Amagertorv on Strøget to Nørreport station, although the last section, north of Kultorvet, is part of Frederiksborggade, which continues on the othe ...

in central Copenhagen. They were later joined by Anna Sarauw and by Johanne's sister, Marie. The shop thrived on its good selection of patterns and materials, complemented by the expertise of the women who ran it. Bindesbøll was recognized for the efficient way she dealt with difficult customers. She was also a strong supporter of Danish embroidery traditions in comparison with those from Germany. Many of their patterns were based on the artwork of P.C. Skovgaard,

Constantin Hansen Carl Christian Constantin Hansen (Constantin Hansen) (3 November 1804 – 29 March 1880) was one of the painters associated with the Golden Age of Danish Painting. He was deeply interested in literature and mythology, and inspired by art hist ...

, and Thorvald Bindesbøll. In 1900, Bindesbøll and Konstantin-Hansen were commissioned to recreate the tapestries from

which had been destroyed in the 1859 fire. After carrying out substantial research, they embarked on the task in 1903. After Konstantin-Hansen died in 1925, Bindesbøll completed the work in 1928. Johanne Bindesbøll died on 9 July 1934 in Copenhagen and is buried in

Frederiksberg Ældre Kirkegård Frederiksberg Ældre Kirkegård is a cemetery in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen. It was established in 1734 behind Frederiksberg Church. Burials * C.F. Gerner Andersen * Kai Normann Andersen * Peter Andersen * Christian Augustinus * Ludvig Augusti ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bindesboll, Johanne 1851 births 1934 deaths Artists from Copenhagen 19th-century Danish artists Danish embroiderers Danish women artists Danish textile artists 19th-century women textile artists 19th-century textile artists