Else Marie Jakobsen tapestry
This very rare wall tapestry titled “Måne – Vinter / Sol – Sommar” was designed by Norwegian textile artist Else Marie Jakobsen and woven in 1976. Created in Norway, the tapestry exemplifies Scandinavian textile artistry and conceptual design of the 1970s. Executed in wool with accents of copper thread, the piece is both a visual and symbolic composition that explores dualities in nature, gender, and emotion through color and form.
The design centers on an oval form rendered in vibrant oranges and creams, suggestive of sunlight and flowing organic elements. This central motif radiates outwards with floral bursts, painterly striations, and swirling patterns that evoke motion and warmth. The use of copper thread introduces a subtle luster, enhancing areas of visual emphasis and suggesting solar reflection or internal vitality. The background field is saturated with deep burgundy, plum, and violet hues that set off the warmer central palette and serve as a chromatic counterpoint.
This work forms a conceptual pendant to another of Jakobsen’s pieces of the same title, interpreting the theme from the opposite end of the emotional and seasonal spectrum. According to the hand-stitched note sewn on the reverse, the tapestry explores the idea of sun and summer “with warmth and sparkling colours, femininity and verticality” juxtaposed with the “coolness and solemness, masculinity and horizontality” of moon and winter. Jakobsen emphasizes that these are not oppositions in conflict, but complementary expressions within a unified whole. The woven initials “EMJ” appear in the lower right corner, and the tapestry retains its original braided hemp hanging cords.
Else Marie Jakobsen (1927–2012) was a renowned Norwegian textile artist known for her monumental works installed in churches, cultural institutions, and civic buildings. Her output is marked by a fusion of spiritual symbolism, rich color harmonies, and technically complex weaving methods. This particular work was a gift from A/S Elektrisk Bureau of Norway and bears provenance both as an artwork and as a commemorative object of corporate diplomacy.
The tapestry remains in excellent condition, with its fibers intact, colors vivid, and copper highlights preserved. The surface texture shows a finely woven balance of looped and flat passages, contributing to its depth and liveliness.
Dimensions are 202 cm in width and 170 cm in height. In imperial measurements, this equals approximately 79.5 inches wide and 66.9 inches high.
