Hansen, Frida (1855 - 1931)

Designer, an outstanding figure in the modem art of textile. Her first great success came at the 1890- 91 Handicrafts Exhibition in Norway, where she exhibited tapestries reviving old Norwegian motifs. Besides applying folklore motifs, she returned to the simple, decorative weaving techniques formerly used by Norwegian tapestry makers. This Scandinavian weaving technique became popular all over Europe at the turn of the century, exerting a great influence both on the Scherrebek workshop and on Sarolta Kovalszky’s workshop in Németelemér, Hungary. She designed as well as made the tapestries, which usually featured scenes from the Old and the New Testament. Her works were exhibited at the Chicago World Exhibition of 1893 and at the Paris International Exhibition of 1900.