A finely crafted round paint decorated Viksdal Rosemaling tine box featuring a flat lid with an applied edge, covered with fine yellow, black and blue scrolled decoration over a salmon colored ground. The removable lid is over a conforming round case with finger joined construction and a surface covered with fine yellow, black and blue scrolled decoration over a salmon colored ground. A nearly identical example is in the Sunnhordland Museum. The style of decorative painting on objects called Rosemaling is a unique Norwegian style that started in the mid 1700’s. All through the Middle Ages and well into the 1700’s and beyond, the typical Norwegian farmhouse was a single-story log building with no windows. In the 1700’s Norway’s economy began to improve and technical advances were introduced such as closed fireplaces and chimneys that allowed smoke to escape. New houses also had windows. After centuries of living in small, dark, smoke filled rooms, people finally had houses that let in light and fresh air. The first wave of rose painting started in the south-eastern parts of the country. Here Norwegian artists trained in guilds and took their inspiration from the Baroque and Rococco styles used in Europe and popular with the Norwegian upper classes. They then travelled from county to county, painting the homes and furnishings of well-to do farmers for a commission of either money or room and board. But as these artists travelled farther away from the influence of the guilds, the creative urge took hold and they began to try out new motifs. Before long, many artists developed their own unique styles.

An antique hand painted Viksdal Rosemaling box.
Viksdal, Norway, 1840 – 1860
European pine throughout.

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