Continuing further on from the previous post about the pigment red being a by-product of Rørøs, well-known mining town, Kongsberg is the other town in Norway known for mining: silver. One not-well-known fact about Norway is that Bergen used to be the capital, until Oslo overtook it. Røros, is actually larger than Oslo (original actual city, not including metro and rural outskirts), because of its silver mines. It just isn´t located as well as Oslo. Rørøs is in what is referred to as the traditional district, as mnay Norwegians identify more with what district they are from or live within. Bunads, the traditional clothing of Norwegians, are vastly different--including colors, fabrics, decorations and sewn designs, jewelry, head dress if any, sashes, over apons, stockings etc for both men, women, children--from district to district, especially Sami. All are very beautiful, very intricately detailed, so much so that there are official courses to take in order to be properly taught how to make authentic-to-district bunads.
PHOTOS
The traditional detailed accents, such as buttons and jewelry, worn with bunads are silver.
PHOTOS
As a foreigner and artist who enjoys handicrafts such as sewing and design, I am designing my bunad, as since I am not from here technically I do not belong to any exact design. Or kids would have traditional local ones from here or Oslo. So as to not insult anyone, and to learn the traditional accurate techniques, I am on a waiting list for course.
The regional bunad I like best, and the one I would like to make in honor of my home and family here, is the Setesdal bunad. Gorgeous! Setesdal is in Southern Norway. I came upon it last May 17th, whilst looking online and in the last actual library book available of bunad designs, as the rest were all checked out due to it being May 17th, and my book being the only book without any local Bergen or Hordaland bunads in it.
A better photo or two of Setesdalbunad (click the purple highlighted word). I like the swinging out skirt, wool, black dress edged in wide swaths of red and gree, and red/green sash: Another photo, what I would like my bunad to be. I feel it would be a good choice, albeit made in such a way that I do not give airs as if I am from Setesdal when I am not--making it clear I am merely am trying to continue what I think is a beloved new tradition, as a newbie here, with my Norwegian-and-American kids (2 born in Norway, 2 born in US), whilst they wear their local bunads:).
MORE PHOTOS OF LOCAL SILVER HANDMADE UNIQUE JEWELRY INCL BUNDAD type
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As as artist, who also enjoys maths and science, one of my favorite books is Mauve: How One Man Invented a Color that Changed the World. And I always find it interesting and fascinating knowing what pigments or how artists/painters, such as Norwegian Edvard Munch , made their paints, both from an artistic, scientific, and mathematical point of view.
Recent article on Munch, whose works are currently on exhibit now at the Tate Modern til October 14, 2012.
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