Swedish Reversible Flatweave Rug ‘Barrskog’ by Ingrid Dessau, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Ingrid Dessau (Designer),Kasthall (Maker)
- Dimensions:Width: 57.09 in (145 cm)Length: 80.32 in (204 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Wool,Hand-Woven
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Unknown
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Vintage condition with some signs of wear and patina consistent with age. There are stains on the carpet (please see detailed photos).
- Seller Location:Göteborg, SE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU8878247743512
Ingrid Dessau
Renowned for her striking, skillfully crafted rugs and carpets made with harmonious color combinations and rich geometric and minimalist patterns, iconic textile designer Ingrid Dessau played an integral role in introducing traditional Scandinavian rug design to the world during the mid-20th century.
Dessau was born in 1923 in Svalöv, an area of Sweden known for its roots in Skåne handicraft traditions. At age 17, she studied weaving, composition, loom-pattern weaving and tapestry at the prestigious Konstfack (University of Arts, Crafts and Design) in Stockholm. Later, she documented folk textiles in watercolor paintings for an archival project at the Kristianstad County Handicraft Association, followed by an internship under textile pioneer Barbro Lundberg-Nilsson at Märta Måås-Fjetterström’s workshop in Bâstad.
In the late 1940s, Dessau won scholarships to study folk crafts in the United States. After traveling to New York City, she met and married Kaj Dessau, a Danish entrepreneur and director of legendary silverware firm Georg Jensen.
While living in New York, the city’s atmosphere and skylines greatly inspired Dessau’s rug designs. Her best known work, a handmade wall hanging called Manhattan, depicts New York City at night, with rows of woven skyscrapers. The mid-century modern tapestry was included in an exhibition titled “Scandinavian Design and USA — People, Encounters and Ideas, 1890-1980” held at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Milwaukee Art Museum, Nationalmuseum in Stockholm and Nasjonalmuseet in Oslo, Norway.
Throughout the 1960s, Dessau produced an impressive collection of Swedish flat-weave rugs such as her reversible, Scandinavian modern Sylarna rug and a range of double-sided carpets featuring intricate patterns and tonal colors. She also designed several Western European and Indian-style rugs and area carpets for manufacturers including Malmöhus Läns Hemslöjd, Doris Leslie Blau and Kinnasand, where she worked as a designer.
Over the course of her career, Dessau received numerous commissions from embassies, banks and museums throughout Europe and North America. Today, her rugs, carpets and tapestries are highly sought by interior designers and collectors of 20th-century Scandinavian textiles.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Ingrid Dessau rugs and carpets.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Göteborg, Sweden
- Return Policy
More From This Seller
View AllVintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Wool
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Wool
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Western European Rugs
Wool
Vintage 1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Tapestries
Fabric
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Western European Rugs
Cotton
Vintage 1960s Hungarian Mid-Century Modern Tapestries
Wool
You May Also Like
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Wool
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Wool
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Wool
Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Wool
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Wool
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Wool
