From Stockholm to London, a visit to two museums

Last week we returned from a trip to Sweden. In a very cold Stockholm I visited the Nordiska Museet, where I immediately made my way to the textile department. There, in huge drawers, is a wealth of textile arts from all over Sweden.

One of my favourite discoveries this year was the wool embroidery from Skåne. The little angel stitched on a blue background is from this particular region in the south of Sweden. On the way out of the museum I decided to visit the shop, where I found the best book on Swedish wool embroidery. I will dedicate a separate blog post to this subject at some point in the future.

On our return to England I had a day to myself in London, which I spent at the Wallace Collection. Someone had recommended the museum to me several months ago, and I’m glad I paid attention to it! It’s one of those well-kept secrets in London – right in the city centre, but wonderfully quiet compared to other big museums. The whole museum has the feel of a grand house, fully furnished with period furniture and matching art. I greatly admire how the collection has been currated, in that the art, furnishings, fittings and other objects together tell a story of a particular period in art. The Wallace Collection boasts a huge collection of famous artworks, including works by Frans Hals (The Laughing Cavalier), Rembrandt, Canaletto, Watteau, Titian, Gainsborough, Rubens and many more. Next time you’re in London, do yourself a favour and have a look!