Gerhard Munthe (1855-1929) Norwegian textile, furniture, Interior Designer

Gerhard Munthe (1855 – 1929) Norwegian Textile, Furniture Designer

Education

He studied painting in Oslo under J.F. Eckersberg, Knud Bergslien, and Juilus Middeltun and in 1874 in Düsseldorf.

Biography

Between 1877-82, he lived in Munich. He dabbled with Arts and Crafts-inspired ornamental art beginning in the 1890s. Together with Erik Werenskiold, whom he had met in Munich, he worked on illustrating Snorri Sturluson’s books from 1896 until 1899. Large tapestries were made from several of his creations. Along with building gigantic decorations, he also built a home in Lysaker, which was destroyed by fire in 1982. Some of these decorations have since been lost.

As a pictorial artist, he brought about a break with historicism in Norway. Drawing on Norwegian folk art and poetry, he illustrated books and designed tapestries for firms including DNB (Det Norske Billedvaveri). He illustrated the deluxe edition of Snorr’s Saga of the Norwegian Kings (1899). Munthe’s 1892 dinner service, produced by Porsgrunds Porselaensfabrik, was based on a nature-oriented theme rather than a historical approach. His 1895 furniture for the Holmenkollen Turisthotell had dragons in the pierced backs of wooden armchairs.

Gerhard Munthe’s armchair of fabric and painted wood was designed about 1900 for the “Fairy Tale Room” Holmenkollen Hotel

Recognition

He won a gold medal at the 1900 Paris ‘Exposition Universelle.’ From 1892 to 1905, he served on the board of the National Gallery of Norway, and from 1897 until his death, he served on the board of Den norske Husflidsforening. From 1905 to 1907, he served as chair of the National Gallery. He received the titles of Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, Knight of the Danish Dannebrog, and Polar Star of Sweden.

In the Giant's Lair, 1892 by Gerhard Munthe

Sources

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing. https://amzn.to/3ElmSlL

Gerhard Munthe – chair – Newspapers.com. (1982, December 12). Newspapers.Com; http://www.newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106638248/gerhard-munthe-chair/

Wikipedia contributors. (2022, May 20). Gerhard Munthe. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 00:40, July 31, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gerhard_Munthe&oldid=1088787933

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