Curious about Scandinavian folk art? If you’ve ever wanted to understand the traditions of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and more, you’re not alone. These art forms are rich in beauty and meaning, though uncovering their significance can be challenging.
You’re not alone—let us help. With our knowledge of Scandinavian folk art, we’ll guide you through its stories, techniques, and symbolism.
In this article, you’ll learn about:
- Traditional crafts like wood carving, textiles, and painted furniture
- The role of symbols and patterns in Scandinavian art
- The impact of folk art on modern Scandinavian culture
Ready to get started? By following this guide, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the timeless beauty and cultural importance of Scandinavian folk art.
Origins of Folk Art in Scandinavia
Folk art in Scandinavia developed from rural traditions, with people using natural materials like wood, textiles, and clay. It was both functional and decorative, with objects such as furniture and tools featuring intricate patterns.
The art was influenced by Christianity, the Viking Age, and trade. Each country—Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland—had its distinctive styles, including Swedish-painted furniture, Norwegian rose painting, and Finnish textile arts.
Key Elements of Scandinavian Folk Art
Traditional Crafts
Woodworking and Carving: Woodworking is a major craft in Scandinavia, with artisans creating everything from furniture to decorative items. Common woods like birch and pine are used, often featuring intricate carvings on objects like chairs, chests, and Dala horses, a traditional Swedish symbol.
Textile Arts and Weaving: Textile crafts such as weaving, embroidery, and knitting are important in Scandinavia. Wool, linen, and other natural fibers are used to create garments, rugs, and blankets with traditional Nordic patterns, including geometric shapes and star motifs. Norway’s “Lusekofte” sweaters are especially well-known.
Silversmithing and Jewelry: Silversmithing has a long tradition, particularly in Norway, where jewelry such as brooches, buttons, and rings are crafted with detailed filigree. Saami artisans are known for their silver and reindeer antler jewelry, often featuring intricate designs.
Ceramics and Pottery: Scandinavian pottery features simple, rustic designs inspired by nature. Hand-thrown and hand-painted ceramics often have earthy glazes and are both functional and decorative. Pottery traditions are found in Finland, Norway, and Sweden.
Glassmaking: Sweden is famous for its glassmaking, with companies like Orrefors and Kosta Boda producing elegant, hand-blown glassware. These pieces are known for their fine details and innovative designs.
Leather and Reindeer Hides: Leather and hides are commonly used in Scandinavia to create practical items like shoes, bags, and gloves. The Saami people are particularly skilled at making colorful handicrafts from reindeer hides, decorated with traditional patterns.
Basket Weaving: Basket weaving is a traditional craft in Scandinavia, made with materials like birch bark, willow, and straw. Baskets are often made for storage and decorated with geometric patterns using different weaving techniques.
Boatbuilding: Scandinavia has a strong history of boatbuilding, especially with the iconic Viking ships. Today, traditional wooden boats are still crafted using time-tested methods that focus on durability and skill.
Knifemaking: Knifemaking is a respected tradition in Scandinavia, with the Finnish puukko and Norwegian Brusletto being popular examples. These knives often feature hand-carved handles, typically made from birch, and are used for outdoor activities like fishing and hunting.
Folk Architecture
Log and Timber Construction: Log cabins and timber structures are iconic, built with wood to suit the cold climate and abundant forests. Norway’s stave churches, with their intricate wooden frames and carvings, are famous examples.
Grass Roofs: Traditional buildings in Scandinavia, particularly in Norway, often feature sod or grass roofs. These roofs offer natural insulation and help the structures blend into the surroundings, protecting them during harsh winters.
Farmhouses and Fäbod: Scandinavian farmhouses are typically clusters of buildings (stables, barns, living quarters) arranged around a central courtyard. In Sweden, fäbodar (summer mountain farms) were used seasonally, with small wooden cabins for dairy production.
Stave Churches: Norway’s stave churches are unique wooden structures with towering frames, carved portals, and dragon-head decorations. These churches combine Viking motifs with Christian design elements.
Saami Lavvu and Goahte: The indigenous Saami people use portable structures like the Lavvu (similar to a tipi) and goahte, a turf-covered tent, which are designed for nomadic reindeer herding in the Arctic climate.
Folk Painting
Geometric Designs and Patterns: Folk painting often features geometric shapes like lines, dots, circles, stars, and diamonds. These patterns are arranged in symmetrical, repeating designs, creating visual harmony. They decorate household items, furniture, and architectural features.
Nature Motifs: Flowers, leaves, and animals are common in Scandinavian folk art. Horses, birds, and fish are frequently used motifs, often painted with bright colors. These images reflect nature’s beauty and carry cultural and symbolic meanings.
Bright, Contrasting Colors: Folk painting uses vivid, contrasting colors such as reds, blues, greens, and yellows, usually applied over dark or light backgrounds to make the designs stand out. These bold colors create an energetic visual effect.
Rosemaling: Rosemaling is a traditional Norwegian art form featuring swirling floral patterns and curves. This style is applied to furniture, doors, and walls, with regional variations. Its flowing forms include floral and leaf motifs.
Kurbits Painting: In Sweden, Kurbits painting is a folk art style that shows elongated, fantastical plants and flowers. These exaggerated forms were inspired by biblical stories and local legends and are often found on chests, furniture, and walls.
Decorative Wall Painting: Traditional Scandinavian homes often feature murals depicting pastoral scenes, landscapes, and geometric borders. These murals reflect rural life and folklore, highlighting both nature and cultural heritage.
Folk Costumes
Embroidered Blouses and Bodices: Women’s folk costumes include hand-embroidered blouses with detailed designs, wool or linen bodices, and skirts with intricate patterns and colors.
Handwoven Belts and Sashes: Woven belts and sashes with geometric designs are common in Scandinavian folk costumes. In Norway, belts may be adorned with silver buckles or brooches, while Sweden’s woven sashes add vibrant accents.
Woolen and Linen Fabrics: Due to the cold climate, Scandinavian folk costumes often include woolen skirts, jackets, and shawls in winter, and lighter linen garments in summer. Aprons and vests are frequently embroidered or decorated with local patterns.
Silver and Metalwork Jewelry: Traditional Norwegian Clothing features silver brooches, buttons, and sølje (crown-like headpieces) with fine filigree work. Saami folk costumes are accessorized with silver or brass necklaces, rings, and belts.
Headdresses and Hats: Traditional headwear varies by region and marital status. Women wear embroidered caps, bonnets, or lace headpieces, while men wear felted wool caps or peaked hats decorated with embroidery.
Reindeer Leather and Fur Details: Saami attire often uses reindeer leather and fur for warmth, with decorative elements crafted from dyed leather or colorful trims. Their clothing is functional and beautifully decorated for the Arctic environment.
See Also Traditional Swedish Wedding Dress
Folk Music and Dance in Scandinavia
Folk Instruments
Hardanger Fiddle (Hardingfele): A traditional Norwegian string instrument similar to a violin, the Hardanger fiddle features extra sympathetic strings that produce a rich, resonating sound. It is often elaborately decorated and commonly played at weddings and festive occasions.
Nyckelharpa: A Swedish instrument with medieval roots, the nyckelharpa includes keys along its neck and creates a deep, resonant tone. It is a key instrument in folk Music in Sweden.
Willow Flute and Wooden Horns: Simple wind instruments like the willow flute, wooden horns, and overtone flutes are commonly found across Scandinavia. These instruments are associated with the rural lifestyle and were historically used by shepherds.
Jew’s Harp and Lur: The Jew’s harp, a small mouth instrument, and the lur, a long wooden or bronze horn, are traditionally used in Norway and Sweden. They were played during ceremonies, festivals, and rituals, including those in Viking times.
Folk Dance Styles
Polska: The Polska is a popular dance in Sweden and Norway, performed in different styles. It features a smooth, turning rhythm in 3/4 time, typically danced in pairs with a gliding motion. Each region has its variation.
Halling: A Norwegian dance traditionally performed by men, the halling involves high jumps and acrobatics. Dancers compete to kick a hat placed on a stick, showing strength and agility at weddings and festivals.
Springdans and Rull: In Norway, springdans and rull are a couple of dances performed in circular patterns. The spring days have a lively tempo, while the Rull is slower and more flowing.
Gånglåt and Schottis: In Sweden, gånglåt is a slower, processional dance, while Schottis is a lively couple dance often seen at festivals and social events.
Finnish Tango and Pelimanni Dances: The Finnish tango combines folk and Argentine tango, with a melancholic feel. Pelimanni dances include waltzes, polkas, and minuets, often performed by folk musicians.
Circle and Chain Dances: Group dances like circle and chain dances are common in Scandinavia. Dancers hold hands or link arms, moving in sync with folk songs during seasonal and community celebrations.
Folk Festivals and Events
Midsummer (Midsommar) – Sweden and Finland: Midsummer in Sweden and Finland celebrates the summer solstice with folk music, dance, and ancient traditions. People dance around the maypole to songs like små Grodorna, often performing frog-like movements. The festival honors nature, fertility, and the sun, with flower crowns and songs celebrating the magic of the night.
The Åmål Folk Festival – Sweden: The Åmål Folk Festival in Västra Götaland County celebrates Swedish folk music and dance. It features performances of Polska, vals, and Halling dances, alongside workshops on traditional instruments like the nyckelharpa and Hardanger fiddle. The festival honors Sweden’s musical heritage, supports contemporary folk and offers young musicians the opportunity to learn from experienced artists.
Kaustinen Folk Music Festival (Finland): The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, held in mid-July in Finland, is the largest of its kind in the Nordic region. It features Finnish kantele music, Pelimanni tunes, and folk dances like humppa and polka. The festival also blends international music and offers workshops for all ages. It celebrates Finnish Culture and attracts visitors from across Finland and beyond.
Regional Folk Art in Scandinavia
Norway
Rosemaling (Roskved): This decorative painting style features intricate, swirling floral designs in bright, contrasting colors. It is most associated with the Telemark and Hallingdal regions, where it was used to decorate furniture, walls, and church interiors.
Hardanger Embroidery: Known for geometric patterns and detailed needlework, Hardanger embroidery often uses white thread on white fabric with openwork designs. This style is typically seen on household textiles like tablecloths and napkins.
Knitting and Weaving: Norwegian folk art includes knitted sweaters and woven textiles. The Lusekofte sweater, with its unique patterns, is a symbol of Norwegian heritage, especially in the mountainous areas. Setesdal weaving, from the Setesdal Valley, is recognized for its bold color contrasts and geometric designs.
Sweden
Dala Horse: Originating in the Dalarna region, the Dala horse is a wooden sculpture carved and painted with bright colors and intricate geometric patterns. It is a well-known symbol of Swedish Culture, often sold as a souvenir.
Kurbits Painting: This folk art style, also from Dalarna, features exaggerated plant and flower designs in swirling patterns. Traditionally used to decorate furniture and wooden items, Kurbit painting is recognized for its bold colors and motifs, including flowers, animals, and biblical scenes.
Swedish Textiles: Traditional textiles from Hälsingland are known for bold patterns and vibrant hues. The UNESCO-listed Hälsingegårdar farmhouses display striking wall hangings that highlight the intricate designs of Swedish Folk Art.
Finland
Finnish Weaving (Kudonta): Finnish weaving is known for intricate patterns and the use of natural materials like wool and linen. Rugs (matto) often feature geometric and abstract designs, with the Karjala region producing textiles noted for their vibrant colors and craftsmanship.
Saami Duodji: The Saami people of northern Scandinavia have a unique craft tradition called duodji, which includes the creation of functional items like clothing, knives, and baskets from materials such as reindeer antlers, wood, and fur. Finnish Folk Art often incorporates patterns and symbols linked to Saami mythology.
Finnish Folk Painting: Folk paintings from Finland, especially in the Karelia region, often depict nature, animals, and mythical beings. These artworks use bright colors and simple, stylized designs to represent scenes from Finnish folklore.
Scandinavian Folk Art: A Recap
Scandinavian folk art reflects the region’s long-standing traditions, shaped by its natural surroundings and cultural history. From Sweden’s wood carvings to Finland and Norway’s textiles, each country offers a distinct interpretation of its heritage.
Crafted with materials like wood, wool, and metal, these art forms connect with both past practices and modern innovation. Nature, folklore, and everyday life are central themes, blending old and new influences.
In conclusion, Scandinavian folk art is an important part of the region’s identity, preserving traditions while adapting to contemporary artistic expressions.
