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The Finnish Ryijy
| Article
# : |
16283 |
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Section : |
CULTURE
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| Issue
Date : |
3 / 1989 |
1,996 Words |
| Author
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Eloise Paananen
Eloise Paananen is a food and travel writer based in
Washington, D.C. |
Glorious splashes of colors reminiscent of the Aurora Borealis, deep somber tones of granite and earth, pastels or shockingly bright combinations, symbolic messages of the Kalevala epic poem, stylized or free-form geometric figures--all are given substance in the fascinating folk art of the Finnish ryijy rug. Centuries ago, ryijys were plain and hardy, woven for warmth and survival. Contemporary ryijys are an art form; many of them are wall hangings designed and created by renowned Finnish artists.
Although people marvel today at the creative mastery of the designer and weaver, the technique was used outside of Scandinavia as early as the Sumerian period, in the third millennium before Christ. Statues of rulers indicate that tufted loincloths and capes replaced furs and the same type of tufted camel hair cape later became the garb of Christian hermits. Artists of the Middle Ages depicted John the Baptist in such attire.
Vikings brought the fashion to the Scandinavian coasts around A.D. 800, and eventually to Finland. The Finnish folk ryijy (from ancient Scandinavian ry or ru, meaning something rough and shaggy) is thus actually a cultural loan.
Development Of The Folk Art
In the beginning, ryijys were used for blankets in place of furs and hides because drenching would not harm them. They also retained warmth better than anything else during long boat voyages. In Norway, such rugs were called "boat" ryas; in Finland "island" ryijys. Having little decoration, they were made of natural-colored, water-resistant, home bred sheep's wool with thick
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