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Ellingsdatter Trunk
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| Accession #: | 1492.1 |
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| Title: | Ellingsdatter Trunk |
| Object Type: | Trunk |
| Participants: | |
| Physical Description: | Large bridal trunk, painted blue green and decorated with floral design. |
| Description: | The most popular piece of furniture decorated was the dowry chest. Eligible Norwegian girls often had such a chest to keep the treasures they were making to start their own homes. Even if a family was poor and could afford no other painting, they managed to decorate a dowry chest. Usually the decoration included the marriage year. The bride's initials or name as well as that of her father were also added. There are eight rosemaling styles: Telemark, Hallingdal, Rogaland, Valdres, Gudbrandsdalen, Os, Vest-Adger, and Romsdal. Sor Trondelag, the province where the Hol, Emang, and Nyhus farms were, appears to be nearest the Gudbrandsdalen area. (From "Norwegian Rosemaling" by Margaret M. Miller and Sigmund Aarseth (Spokane Public Library 741.72 M616)) Painting on trunk: According to the curator at the Trondelag Museum the painting on the trunk is typical for the southwestern part of Sor-Trondelag, Oppdal. "In Trondelag it is a specialty for Oppdal that the cabinet maker make 'higer' felts on the front of the trunk." The curator at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum also said that objects from the Trondelag area commonly have bouquets of flowers in vases or baskets painted on them. The painting probably dates to the first generation who owned the trunk. By 1875 the rosemaling fashion was fading and there were very few active rosemalers. The curator at Trondelag Folkemuseum believes that the dates on the trunk refer to the years that the mother and daughter became engaged. The trunk is most likely a bridal trunk (brudekiste). The trunk probably passed from mother to daughter. (all above info comes from Research by Kathy Holte, MAC Volunteer, 2007) |
| Category: | History |
| Subjects/Topics/Concepts: |
Immigration (Immigration), Carrying & Storage (Personal Artifact->Personal Gear), Marriage (Communication->Ceremonial)
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| Geographical Reference: | Norway (International->Europe) |
| Dimensions: |
Object H x W x D 29 x 42 x 21 1/2"
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| Materials/Techniques: |
wood (plant material) (Material)
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| Related Exhibits: | |
| Credit Line: | Gift of Mrs. Ole Olson Emang, 1953 |
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