Rug weaving in Scandinavian countries

The wool was grown, spun and dyed at home. The colors were clear and bright. During the long winters the women wove while the men did their elaborate wood carving.

Every girl made a special rya for her dowry, often with twin hearts and initials in the pattern. Designs differed in every province, sometimes in every home.

When machine-made fabrics became common, hand weaving practically died out, but just before these native products had entirely disappeared, a group of young university students in Sweden traveled through the country collecting all the antique rya they could find.

The oldest dated piece found was made in 1705.