Rug

Maker & role
Unknown, Maker
 Production date
circa 1965
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Object detail

Production place
Finland
Collection
Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection
Measurements
0 - Whole, W: 188cm (W: 1880mm)
Production notes
Production place [Finland] not confirmed.
Credit line
Gift, 2005
Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection, Museums of History New South Wales
Caption
Shag pile rug, unknown maker, Finland, circa 1965, wool
Description
An exuberantly coloured, hand woven, shag pile rug known as a rya. Rya (or ryijy) rugs are traditionally of Scandinavian origin and were originally employed for such uses as bed covers, horse cloths, and sleigh-rugs. After World War II, Scandinavian design attracted increasing attention around the world, and many of their traditional crafts such as rug weaving also gained favour. The Australian interior decorator, Margaret Lord, wrote in her book, 'An Interior Decorator’s World' (1969), that Scandinavian designers were proud of their handicraft traditions and that "many of their most modern designers were handcraftsmen before becoming designers for industry." By the 1960s, traditionally woven rya rugs often using contemporary designs and colours joined the raft of Scandinavian designer goods being exported around the world. In Australia, interior decorator Marion Best Pty Ltd imported furniture, fabrics, glassware, lights and ryas from Finland. In the 1967 'Rooms on View' exhibition, the Marion Best designed 'Room for Mary Quant' included a number of Finnish furnishings such as a globe chair by Eero Aarnio, and a colourful rya.

This rya rug was used in the bedroom of an apartment in Edgecliff Sydney from c1965 to c2000.
Accession number
L2005/60

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