Swedish handwoven woollen röllakan with pink design, c1960s-70s

A Swedish handwoven woollen röllakan rug, 183 x 129 cm dating from around the 1960s-70s. It has a geometric design, mainly pink on a pale neutral background and with detail in blue. It is clean and in excellent vintage condition. It is reversible, one side showing slight fading and minor wear on small parts of the sides, The fringes are full and clean. 

Röllakan rugs are an important part of the Swedish textile tradition. Initially part of the peasant craft dating back to the middle-ages they were given a modern make-over by the Swedish textile designer Märta Måås-Fjetterström in the early years of the Twentieth century.  She went on to inspire and train many designers who produced high quality hard wearing woollen rugs with a typical muted Scandinavian palette and suble modern motifs. They are real works of art as well as functional homeware items and are an essential feature of the Scandinavian look.