Skåne

The story behind the pattern "Skåne"

The Latin name Scania, or Skåne as we say in Swedish, is Sweden's southernmost province and one of the country's most fertile regions. It is often called "Sweden's pantry" and consists largely of fields and meadows – as much as 70% of the landscape is farmland.

Skåne has played an important role in Swedish history, not least during the Middle Ages when the herring fishery in the Öresund Strait laid the foundation for the internationally significant "Skåne Market" in Skanör and Falsterbo. The region is also rich in cultural heritage and historic buildings. Among its 240 castles and manor houses is Hovdala Castle, whose history dates back to the 16th century. The castle was burned down in 1678 but was rebuilt by Jöns Mickelsson. He was later ennobled as Ehrenborg, and Hovdala Castle remained in the family's possession for nine generations. Today, it is a national cultural heritage site.

In Båstad we find the studio of Märta Måås-Fjetterström. Märta Måås (1873-1941) has been called a pioneer of Swedish textile art and remains relevant as a designer today. Trained as a drawing teacher, she worked at institutions such as Kulturen in Lund and Svensk Hemslöjd in Malmö. Early on, she began creating sketches for woven textiles, which would later become her life's work.

At the Baltic Exhibition in Malmö in 1914, she was noticed by Ludvig Nobel, who acquired her work "Hjorthagen" and encouraged her to open her own studio in Båstad. There, Märta Måås-Fjetterström created over 700 sketches for rugs and textiles, which are still handwoven in wool and linen using yarn from the studio's own dye works. After her death in 1941, a sketch with the inscription "Keep in good spirits" lay on her worktable, but it was never woven. Her work continues to inspire and is celebrated as part of Sweden's textile heritage.

Designer Åse Öjbro has created this pattern as a tribute to Skåne's history and culture. The Skåne pattern is adorned with two majestic red deer and the Skåne goose.

- For me, Skåne is a pattern that captures the essence of my beloved Skåne – a tribute to Sweden's beautiful garden. Through this design, I wanted to capture the proud spirit that characterizes Skåne, symbolized by the noble red deer. Skåne is a richly endowed region in many ways, with important industries such as Trelleborg, Tetra Pak, and Perstorp, and culinary treasures such as Kivik apples and cider, spettekaka, black soup, and the traditional goose dinners. Personally, I also want to honor the talented textile artist Märta Måås-Fjetterström and her wonderful works through my Skåne pattern.