Barbro Nilsson (1899 – 1982) Swedish Textile Designer

A carpet, "Grönspättan" ("Spättan grön"), flat weave, (AB Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Barbro Nilsson). Designed in 1943.
A carpet, “Grönspättan” (“Spättan grön”), flat weave, (AB Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Barbro Nilsson). Designed in 1943.

Barbro Nilsson (1899 – 1982) was a Swedish Textile Designer. She was born in Malmö.

Education

Between 1913-17, she studied weaving, at Brunsson Vavskola, under Johanna Brunsson and Alma Jakobsson. Between 1917-20, at the Konstfackskolan and Tekniska Skolan, Stockholm. 

1920-24, Hogre Konstindustrielle Skolan, Stockholm. 

Biography

1919-41, she was an instructor at Brunssons Vavskola. 

1924-25, she was the director and chief instructor (with Maria Nordenfelt) at the Crafts and Design Seminarium in Gothenburg, Sweden. 

A carpet "Snäckorna", flat weave. (AB Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Barbro Nilsson). Designed in 1943.
A carpet “Snäckorna”, flat weave. (AB Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Barbro Nilsson). Designed in 1943.

1924-25, instructor at the Kunstindustrie Skolan, Kunstindustrie Dags-kolan, and Kunstindustrie Aftonskolan in Stockholm, and visiting instructor at the Konstfackskolan, Stockholm, and Kunsthandvaer-kerskolen, Copenhagen. 

In 1927, she set up her own workshop in Stockholm. 1942-71, she was artistic director of the AB Marta Måås-Fjetterstrom in Bastad, the position she assumed after the death of Måås-Fjetterstrom. 

Recognition

She received the 1948 Litteris et Artibus Medal and the 1954 Prince Eugen Medal. Her work was included in the 1954-57 USA ‘Design in Scandinavia’ travelling exhibition, 1955 ‘H 55’ exhibition in Hälsingborg, and 1958 ‘Formes Scandinaves’ at the Paris Musee des Arts Decoratifs. 

Rug “Kringelikroka” designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF AB, Sweden. 1954.
Rug “Kringelikroka” designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF AB, Sweden. 1954.

Sources

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.

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