Creative hands, book about Icelandic laid and couched embroideries of past centuries by Elsa E.Guðjónsdóttir. Editored by Lilja Árnadóttir of the National Museum of Iceland. Verðlaunahafi Fjöruverðlaunanna 2024 í flokki fræðirita- Bókmenntaverðlaun kvenna á Íslandi.
Með verkum handanna - Creative hands. In the book are the results from research by textile and clothing expert Elsa. In the book are presented fifteen Icelandic laid and couched embroideries garments that have been preserved from previous centuries. The oldest pieces are from late 14th centur. Nine of the Icelandic garments are preserved in the National Museum of Iceland, while six are preserved in other museums, in Denmark, France and the Netherlands.
Laid-and-couched embroidery is known in Icelandic as refilsaumur or refill-stitch. The term derives from the word refill for long horizontal wall-hangings that hung on the interior walls of homes and churches in the Middle Ages. Icelandic refilsaumur (laid-and-couched embroidery) forms an important part of the nation’s visual and artistic heritage, and was probably created largely by women. This tradition has significance both nationally and internationally. Dr. Guðjónsson’s research highlights a form of Icelandic art which is no less beautiful than the finest of manuscript illuminations, and which has symbolic value.
From 2006 Lilja Árnadóttir of the National Museum, worked closely with Elsa on editing the book for publication. After Elsa’s death in 2010, the National Museum gave an undertaking to her widower and family that the museum would publish her work. Bókin er bundin með Svissneskri bindingu, það þýðir að bókin er aðeins bundin við baksíðuna, þetta sýnir fallega bindingu bókarinnar og auðveldar að fletta bókinni þegar hún liggur á borði.
Í nóvember 2023 var opnuð samnefnd sýning í Arc-hall á klæðunum fimmtán, sýningunni lauk 2024. Íslensku refilsaumsklæðin sem eru í eigu safna í Danmörku, Frakklandi og Hollandi voru fengin að láni af þessu tilefni. Þjóðminjasafnið fagnar 160 ára afmæli sínu með þessari merku sýningu.
English summary is in each chapter.
