Kirsti Ilvessalo: Finnish Ryijy Rug 1957.

Fabulously plush Kirsti Ilvessalo, ryijy rug model for the Friends of Finnish Handicraft. You will feel so cozy sitting on this ultimate shag carpet! On the wall or on the floor, it's an absolutely fantastic piece of ryijy rug weaving & the colors are exquisite. Ryijys date from as early as the 9th century. Similar in nature to a woolen knotted Persian carpet, the ryijy knots are further apart and made much larger and longer.

Titled: "Palokärki" (Black woodpecker). Woven by G. Nyström 1957.

54" W x 72" L + 6" of fringe. Shags are about 3.4" long! Very good vintage condition.

Exhibited in the Grand Prix Milano 1954 & documented in "Ryijy elää, suomalaisia ryijyjä 1778-2008", page 307, Tuomas Sopanen, Leena Willberg.

Artist: Kirsti Ilvessalo (Finland, 1920-2019) a leader in the Friends of Finnish Handicraft association during the period of 1947 to 1952. Subsequently, she opened her own textile studio. She taught textile composition at the School of Art and Design in 1947–1960. She was best known for her ryijy, which appeared in several foreign museums (including the V&A in London & the National Museum in Stockholm.
Ilvessalo won the gold medal at the Triennale di Milano in 1951 and 1960 as well as the Grand Prix in 1954. In 1979, she was awarded the Order of the Lion of Finland.