What is husflid?

Simply put - rural craft!

Husflid ("hoos-fleed" - meaning rural craft or home industry) is the home production of utilitarian and craft items, created as a necessary part of the daily rural life. These items are in general based on traditional techniques and/or patterns.

Though once widespread and commonplace, today husflid is not a necessary part of life, but its spirit lives on in the lives of many hobbyists. Many techniques and skills that otherwise would disappear are kept alive by people (including craftsmen and artists) practicing husflid.

In older times, husflid products were not made by trained craftsmen nor artisans that made a living out of it, but by the "common" people. This does not mean that these products in general were inferior or of a lesser quality than those made by the "professional" craftsman. Since the husflid items were made to be used at home, a lot of work, love and thought went into these products to make them last - and make them pleasing to look at. While a cabinetmaker would make a cabinet, it could be rather plain - depending upon the customer and what they could afford. Made at home, a "husflid style" cabinet would often have intricate carvings or beautiful rose paintings - it would serve as a cabinet but also as an ornament. (The common people did not have a lot of furniture or wall hangings, so what they put on the walls or elsewhere served two purposes - the practical and the aestethical.)

Being so personal, and also well cared for - many items were passed on to the next generation - and the next one after that... Many beautiful, uniqe items have survived genereations, and can today be found on display in local museums in Norway (as well as some museums in the US). An original antique husflid item can fetch a good price at auctions - even without the maker's name being known.

In older times (as well as during World War I and II), husflid items were also used for barter or sale. Necessary items like sugar, flour, salt, tools, hardware - whatever the household would be in need of would be traded for the craft products. As utilitarian products, they have today mostly been replaced with mass-produced items made of plastic, glass and metal.

Today husflid is a term describing a vast range of handicraft activities - encompassing woodworking, coopering, metal smithing (iron, tin, bronze, silver), yarn spinning and dying, weaving, knitting, sewing, needlework, pottery, leathercraft, tanning, basket making, decorative painting, decorative carving, candlemaking, glass blowing... Pretty much any handicraft that can be performed at home and that is based on traditional techniques and/or patterns can be regarded as husflid. This also includes jewelry and utalitarian products made of silver, bronze, brass, tin. Many husflid products are nowadays made by local craftsmen and artist - for sale. These items are more for display, reminiscent of older times.

If you ever visit Norway, there is a chain of stores called "Husfliden" - pretty much every town and city has one. Here you can buy items made by local craftspeople in the area and supplies for certain handicrafts (yarn, textiles, patterns, looms, wood items ready to be carved or rose painted). They also often carry items that are specific to their own area only, and cannot be found in the Husfliden store in the next city. Some of the items they sell are mass produced, but the Husfliden store will only sell these if they meet certain criterias. Clothes made after traditional patterns (sweaters, "bunad" - the traditional costume, other traditional clothing) can be factorymade or sometimes handmade by a local. If you are in Norway and want to buy something genuine Norwegian as a souvenir, this might be the best place to go. But be prepared to pay a premium.

Below I am showing a few examples of husflid items - made by family members.

Click on the image and you will get a full size image. It will open up in a separate window.

	"Leaving for America". Wowen picture, size 24x28". Made by my mom.
	"Gi oss i dag vårt daglige brød" / "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matt 6:11). Rose painted pine serving tray. Tray made by my dad, rose painted by my mom. 12x19½"
	"Lazy-susan" serving platter, painted by my aunt Inger-Marie. 15" dia.
	Rose painted tray. Painted by my mom. 2½ x6x9".
	Rose painted spatula. Painted by my aunt Inger-Marie. 2x11"
	Wowen table runner. Made by my mom. 15x25"