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The Skog tapestry ( or ''Skogtapeten'') is a
The Skog tapestry ( or ''Skogtapeten'') is a medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...
textile work of art which was discovered in Skog Church in Sweden in 1912. Its subject matter remains a topic of discussion. The tapestry is presently housed in the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm
Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
.
History
The tapestry was discovered in 1912 by Frans Rodenstam and Erik Salvén, who were on a tour of churches inHälsingland
Hälsingland (), sometimes referred to by the Latin name Helsingia, is a historical Provinces of Sweden, province or ''landskap'' in central Sweden. It borders Gästrikland, Dalarna, Härjedalen, Medelpad and the Gulf of Bothnia. It is part of ...
looking for textile church art for an exhibition. At the time, the tapestry was used as a cloth and was wrapped around a bridal crown in the attic of Skog Church. It was in a poor shape and was sent for conservation to Stockholm
Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
, where it was professionally treated by Agnes Branting. It is presently kept at the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm. Using radiocarbon dating
Radiocarbon dating (also referred to as carbon dating or carbon-14 dating) is a method for Chronological dating, determining the age of an object containing organic material by using the properties of carbon-14, radiocarbon, a radioactive Isotop ...
, researchers have concluded that the tapestry was made sometime between 1240 and 1410, and most probably during the late 13th century. The original location of the tapestry is unknown; a chapel was built in Skog only in 1324.
Description
The tapestry is made of a mixture oflinen
Linen () is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant.
Linen is very strong and absorbent, and it dries faster than cotton. Because of these properties, linen is comfortable to wear in hot weather and is valued for use in garments. Lin ...
and wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have some properties similar to animal w ...
and woven in soumak technique; it is one of the last examples of soumak weaving technique in medieval Swedish textile art. Approximately of the original tapestry's right side has been lost.
The subject matter that the tapestry depicts has been lively discussed. Notably, it is the depiction of three prominent figures that has caused debate. One theory posits that they are representations of the three Nordic saint-kings Saint Olaf
Saint Olaf ( – 29 July 1030), also called Olaf the Holy, Olaf II, Olaf Haraldsson, and Olaf the Stout or "Large", was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. Son of Harald Grenske, a petty king in Vestfold, Norway, he was posthumously given the ...
, Saint Eric and Saint Canute. Another theory is that they are representing the three Norse divinities Odin
Odin (; from ) is a widely revered god in Norse mythology and Germanic paganism. Most surviving information on Odin comes from Norse mythology, but he figures prominently in the recorded history of Northern Europe. This includes the Roman Em ...
, Thor
Thor (from ) is a prominent list of thunder gods, god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding æsir, god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred trees and groves in Germanic paganism and mythology, sacred g ...
and Freyr
Freyr (Old Norse: 'Lord'), sometimes anglicized as Frey, is a widely attested Æsir, god in Norse mythology, associated with kingship, fertility, peace, prosperity, fair weather, and good harvest. Freyr, sometimes referred to as Yngvi-Freyr, was ...
, on account that one of the figures, like Odin, is lacking one eye. Later research has however concluded that the missing eye has simply been lost by wear and all three figures originally had two eyes. There is also a central structure in the tapestry which possibly depicts a church
Church may refer to:
Religion
* Church (building), a place/building for Christian religious activities and praying
* Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination
* Church service, a formalized period of Christian comm ...
, which would rule out a pagan subject matter. Other interpretations have been that the three figures represent the Magi
Magi (), or magus (), is the term for priests in Zoroastrianism and earlier Iranian religions. The earliest known use of the word ''magi'' is in the trilingual inscription written by Darius the Great, known as the Behistun Inscription. Old Per ...
or the Trinity
The Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, , consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, thr ...
. The subject matter of the tapestry as a whole has been interpreted by some as a depiction of the struggle between paganism and Christianity.
The tapestry displays many similarities with the older Överhogdal tapestries.
See also
* Grödinge tapestry * Överhogdal tapestriesReferences
{{Tapestry Tapestries Medieval textile design Textile arts of Sweden Collection of the Swedish History Museum