NORTH HOUSE FOLK SCHOOL – Points North 2020
Auction Ends: Sep 20, 2020 10:00 PM CDT

NHFS Instructor

Ceramic Vase from North House Instructor Karen Keenan

Item Number
136
Estimated Value
Priceless
Sold
100 USD to dn342b265
Number of Bids
12  -  Bid History

Item Description

This piece is a mixed media vase. Its small round body with moss blue glaze fits nicely into the hand. Made with fireclay, this item was reduction-fired in a gas kiln. Swedish style hair braids and hair covered wood beads complemented by silver and stone adorn its surface. 

As a child, Karen was interested in her mother’s hair brooch from Våmhus, Sweden. Years later, with many needlework projects under her belt, Karen read about the tradition of Swedish women entrepreneurs in the 1800’s who traveled from their homes in Sweden to major European urban areas to make hair jewelry for others. At the time, Karen was unaware of where this growing curiosity in hairwork would lead. Then, in 2018, supported by a Reviving Folk Arts in the Midwest Fellowship through the American Scandinavian Foundation, Karen traveled to Våmhus, Sweden, to learn how to make table-made hair jewelry. In October 2019, the Nordic Center in Duluth, MN featured an exhibition curated by Karen of hair jewelry called Woven: Traditional Swedish Hair Jewelry. As an accompaniment to this exhibition, Karen offered a course on how to make a table-made hair bracelet. Karen continues to be fascinated with hairwork and is eager to share what she knows with others. When not doing hairwork, she can be found playing flute, making and teaching pottery, or digging in the garden.

Visit Karen's website to see more of her work!

Item Special Note

Winning bidder is reponsible for pick-up from North House or for $10 in shipping cost.