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CRAFTS – A JOURNEY IN TIME (2000)

1700–1750

Busy hands provided a steady income

In the past, young women proved their eligibility for marriage by making a large trousseau of clothing. The most common requirements for this were skills such as shearing, the spinning of thread, weaving and the sewing of a man’s shirt. At the wedding, the bride was also expected to give gifts of clothing to the groom’s family. Alongside shirts and blouses, gifts included socks, mittens, belts for fur coats and ornamental bands, also aprons and hand-towels in Karelia. The women of neighbouring farms and households would help the young bride to make the trousseau.

Drawing: Suomen käsityön museo / Tuula Ollikainen

Text and images: Crafts – a journey in time -exhibition, if not mentioned otherwise.

THE CRAFTS GUILDS

The craftsman began his career at the age of 13 or 14, when he would enrol as an apprentice with a master craftsman. The journeyman stage, which came next, required a certain degree of acquired skill and an approved apprentice’s examination.The itinerancy of a journeyman was a means to gain knowledge of new styles and techniques. Most Finnish journeymen travelled to Stockholm, but international St Petersburg began to exert its influence from the close of the 18th century. The degree of master craftsman required the completion of an accepted masterpiece, after which the craftsman was given the rights of a burghers and permission to follow his craft. The 18th century was a flourishing period for Finland’s crafts guilds.

Drawing: Suomen käsityön museo / Tuula Ollikainen

WEALTH AND TEXTILES AS POSSESSIONS

The value of personal property was based on precious metals and textiles. The textiles owned by poorer people consisted of clothing and only the most essential bedclothes – a woollen sheet or rag-weave cover for the mattress or bedstraw, a rya weave or coverlets. Parsonages and manors had dozens of bed-sheets, table napkins, pillowcases, as well as bench covers and tablecloths. The weavers of drills, or drillmasters, made tablecloths, napkins, and towels, but linen was also used for garments.

Drawing: Suomen käsityön museo / Anne Saarikoski

KNITTED MITTENS

In Southern Karelia, on the islands in the Gulf of Finland and in the East Uusimaa region, the knitted mittens had geometric designs linking them to the knitted mittens of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The same designs also appear in the knitwear of Gotland. In the mid-18th century white knitted gloves became the festive gloves of commoner women.

Photo: Suomen käsityön museo

PAINTED DECORATION

Around the middle of the century the multi-coloured painted decoration of furniture became widespread in the Åland Islands, and in the regions of Uusimaa, Southwest Finland and Ostrobothnia. Cupboards, chests, cradles, bunk-beds and grandfather clocks were decorated with painted wreaths, crowns and bridal pairs. Floral motifs became common towards the end of the century. Also church sleighs, horse-collars and harness parts were painted.

Photo: Pohjanmaan museon kuva-arkisto

FORGED WEATHER VANES

Village blacksmiths made impressive forged weather vanes , which came into use in the 18th century. They were mostly in the shape of a dragon, lion or horse, or were modelled after the weather vanes of churches.

Drawing: Pirkko Ryömä

KYYRÖLÄ POTTERY

The potters of Kyyrölä at Muolaa on the Karelian Isthmus were famous throughout the country. This particular craft dates from the 1720s, when Russian potters were resettled in the parish of Muolaa.

Photo: Suomen käsityön museo / Erkki Hiltunen

THE WOODEN BOAT

The wooden boats of Finland evolved over the centuries according to natural conditions. They are divided into two main classes: the wide and deep sea boats and the narrow and shallow river and lake boats. In the summer large “church boats” with 7-15 pairs of oars were used for often long trips to church.

Drawing: Alfred Kolehmainen; Suomen kansallismuseon kuva-arkisto

THE LUXURY DECREES

During the 17th and 18th centuries various kinds of imported fabrics were obtained for festive wear, particularly in affluent Western Finland. The government issued decrees on luxury items to restrict the right to buy costly imported goods. The common people were urged to return moderation and to wear homespun clothing. The luxury decrees were revoked in the early 19th century. The printed fabric.

CRAFTS – A JOURNEY IN TIME

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