Enjoy the grace of truly Swedish shapes
The Dalarna region is Sweden´s leading centre for traditional crafts, and home to Sweden´s national symbol, the Dalacarlian horse, painted in the typical kurbitz technique of colourful floral ornamentation. It’s a style that graces many of the region´s characteristic folkloristic craft objects, including items of woodwork, ironwork, textiles, pottery, jewellery, and even hair art – a unique weaving technique using human hair! Of course, you also find this typical Dalecarlian style in the spectacular regional folk costumes, which are still worn for festive occasions – particularly Midsummer – by both old and young people from the region, to an extent not seen in any other part of Sweden.
All around Dalarna there are numerous shops and other outlets where you can see and purchase high-quality folk art and handicrafts, including Leksands hemslöjdsförening, a large, well-stocked shop in the town of Leksand. Dalarnas museum in Falun, and of course the Nordic Museum in Stockholm, are the places to go if you´re looking for an overview of historic Swedish folk art. The village of Nusnäs is the original home of the Dalacarlian horse, with several workshops open to the public where you can buy your own handpainted horse.
If you´re interested in the origins of contemporary Swedish design and interiors, and Nordic aesthetics in general, a visit to the marvellous Sundborn, near Falun, is an absolute must. Sundborn is the preserved home of turn-of-the-century national romantic artist Carl Larsson and his wife Karin – one of the leading pioneers in Swedish interior decorating.
For contemporary design in the broadest sense, Stockholm is widely acknowledged as a leading centre in Europe, on a par with Milan, Paris and London. It’s a city where the design afficionado can spend weeks indulging in the beauty of shapes, colours and proportions. But you can also find many sites of great interest outside of the capital. These days, cities such as Uppsala, Örebro, Västerås, Falun, Eskilstuna and Gävle all offer shops, interiors and attractions if your passion is contemporary design. There are also many design and craft sites of particular interest in the countryside. With so many fine examples, it’s difficult to single out just a few.
However, the House of Design in Hällefors in Värmland, featuring a comprehensive permanent exhibition of 20th-century design, is a place to visit when travelling in this area. At the Klässbol linen weaving mill in nearby Arvika, you can purchase its trademark, prime quality linen at favourable prices. If you´re into advanced and exciting contemporary garden design at world class level, don´t miss a visit to the Wij gardens in Ockelbo near Gävle, with organic creations by world famous garden designers Lars Krantz and Simon Irvine.
Throughout Central Sweden, there are a variety of tours and exhibitions on design and craft available – especially during summer.
Dalarna is famous for its scenic landscapes and its lively tradition of folk customs, celebrations and crafts.
Castles, palaces, fortresses, estates, manor houses, country houses, mansions and other dwellings of bygone days. Sweden has all of them aplenty the length and breadth of the country, in all their various forms, functions and purposes.