Paula Trock (1889–1979) was a Danish weaver who began producing her own fabrics at the Troba workshop in Sønderborg in the early 1930s. In 1945, she established Spindegården near Vejen in the south of Jutland which she headed until 1969. There she developed innovative processes, producing a wide range of textiles, especially for use in the home. Trock's curtains were commissioned for the United Nations Headquarters in New York, for Marselisborg Palace 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 ...
Holbæk
Holbæk () is a town in Denmark and the seat of Holbæk municipality with a population of 29,608 (1 January 2022).Inner Mission and a father who gained a reputation for his cheeses.
In 1925, she entered
Askov Højskole
Askov Højskole is a Danish folk high school, that is located in the village of Askov in southern Jutland between Kolding and Esbjerg. It was founded in 1865 as an extension of Denmark's first folk high school, which had been established in 1844 ...
, a folk high school, where she established friendships with the principals, Karen and Jens Therkelsen Arnfred, and with
Jenny la Cour
Jenny Erasmine la Cour (1849–1928) was a Danish teacher and textile artist. After attending Askov Højskole as a student, she taught there and in 1885 took charge of a house for girls undertaking teacher training. In 1888, she attended the fo ...
, who introduced her to weaving. Hoping to make a career in weaving, in 1926 she made study trips to Sätergläntan in Dalarna, Sweden, Tavastehus, Finland, and Dartington Hall in Devon, England.
In 1928, supported by the weaver Else Kock and the housekeeping teacher Rigmore Seidelin-Larsen and in conjunction with Askov Højskole, she established a weaving school in
Poul la Cour
Poul la Cour (13 April 1846 – 24 April 1908) was a Danish scientist, inventor and educationalist. Today la Cour is especially recognized for his early work on wind power, both experimental work on aerodynamics and practical implementation of wi ...
's former home. The curriculum consisted of a six-month course in practical weaving and three months' theory. Among the experts she brought in were Paulli Andersen (1906–1990) and Frances van Hall from the Netherlands. In 1934, the school moved to Sønderborghus on the island of
Als
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that results in the progressive loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. ALS is the most com ...
, where the Troba weaving workshop was also established. Despite considerable success, in 1943 the Germans took the school over during the occupation.
In 1948, Trock opened the Spindegården production facility immediately adjacent to Askov High School. The textile artist Inge Bjørn became closely associated with the new establishment. It proved to be a pioneering development centre for experimentation with the use of new weaving materials, spinning techniques, and dying. She also worked with cellophane, creating curtains for the 1960 Milan Triennal. In 1970, she transferred the management of Spindegården to
Hanne Vedel
Hanne Elisabet Vedel (born 23 January 1933) is a Danish weaver who has created her own textiles since 1955, using natural raw materials such as silk, wool and cotton. In 1979, after acquiring Spindegården from Paula Trock, she moved the establishm ...
who had worked with her for many years. Vedel moved the production facility to Aabenraa, preserving Trock's designs and manufacturing processes. Trock's curtains were commissioned for the United Nations Headquarters in New York, for Marselisborg Palace 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 ...
, and for the Royal Yacht ''Dannebrog''.
For her outstanding work, Paula Trock received wide recognition including the Grand Prix for the 1935 and 1937 world exhibitions and gold medals for the Milan Triennials in 1954, 1957 and 1960. In 1959, she was honoured as a
Knight of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog ( da, Dannebrogordenen) is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single class known ...