The sun., 1909-01-03
BILLEvAEV TAPESTRY.
Peculiar weaving Done Only by Women
OF the Norwegian Nobility.

The beautiful Billevaev. or picture
weaving. as the tapestry making Of
Norway may be called, has for many
years created a furor in Europe. II is
work of art which is much sought and
Is sold TO the leading museums In Europe
and TO the royal houses OF Norway, Swe,
den. England Germany and Italy.
Nine. Frda Koehler Hansen OF Christi
ania has devoted her life to designing
and planning for sale these tapestries
assisted 10y one Of Norway's greatest
painters. Gerhardt Munthe. The Govern
ment of Norway made a law that only
the ladies OF the nobility could execute
this work in Norway, says Toun and
Coun!ry and as many Of them are poor
it is to-day a valued means Of earning
money in their ancestral homes.
Nine. Hansen is the only person who
knows who does the work in response
10 the orders which she procures. The
/ law greatly limits the number of workers,
and consequently the tapestries are
scarce and must be ordered many months
before they are needed.
/ AS there are not enough workers 10
supply the demand il has been decided
that other women, though not in Norway,
shall be allowed to weave these tapestries.
One or two enterprising women are now
teaching Billevaev in America.
Some OF the few pieces made in this
country we're exhibited at the National
Arts Club in New York in May, 1905,
and were OF much interest TO those who
saw for the first timo this exquisite work :
manship. Already the few women who
have undertaken the craft are kept busy.
and no doubt IL more people knew OF the
necessity for good weavers many would
take up the work.
These tapestries differ from any others
by being woven alike on both sides. They
are particularly well adapted for por-
there's and curtains, but the boldness OF
the treatment and the pictorial effect of
the designs make them especially beau
tiful for wall hangings. Most of the
Tapestries are the creation OF Nine
Hansen and show the work Of the true
artist She took up the work with a patri-
otto spirit. fearing that this beautiful craft
would soon disappear unless exploited
in art centres.
The wool from which these tapestries
are woven is hand carded and hand spun,
thereby, keeping i,s richness; yarn spun
half it's warmth. Before The wool Is dyed
and spun the tapestry drawing must be
panted in color. as this has 10 be faith
FULLY reproduced in the weaving itself.
The looms arc upright and the design
is placed behind the warps so that il can
be accurately copied when seen through
the warp.
The wool IL then dyed each piece being
matched to the design. The shading is
done in the dyeing OF the wool itself. the
different shades Of wool all being planned
before spinning the yarn, just as a painter
would mix his colors on a palette.
In beginning a rug the first part is usu-
ally unbroken by desi gn, so that shuttle
can be used TO throw the wool across the
loom until the design Is reached. Then
comes the intricate part of the weaving.
Large needles are employed, The process
may be lkened to darning rather than
to weaving. for this requires the use of
many needles threaded with many colors.
After darning with one needle another
needle may be taken up, threaded with
different color for another part OF the
design.