Marianne Richter
1916-2010
Go back
Marianne Richter studied at Konstfack [University College of Arts, Crafts and Design]
in Stockholm and then worked professionally both as a textile artist and a ceramicist. Textiles came to
dominate her activities. During the years 1939-1942 she worked for the local handicrafts association in
the central Swedish province of Kronoberg as well as teaching at Konstfack. From 1949 she was principal
lecturer in the textiles department at Konstfack.
She was contracted to Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB by Barbro Nilsson
as early as in 1942. Her works are hugely colourful and she often found inspiration in contemporary art,
whether it was Paul Klee's delicate compositions or Picasso's more monumental address.
Her "Tuppamattan" [Cockerel Rug], designed in 1949, shows something new in the technique
of woven tapestry. It was made in Båstad and then acquired by the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm.
In this tapestry Marianne Richter varied the triangular motif provided by the bodies of the cockerels
and their crown-like combs while the powerful framing of the tapestry is reminiscent of a technique used
in Skåne for edging cushions, or of the roof tiles in Märta Måås-Fjetterström's
long, runner-like woven mat entitled "Tomegapsgatan" from 1905 [on permanent loan to the Malmö Museums].
Marianne Richter's woven tapestries acquired a further decorative element and the intensity of the colours
could cause works to sparkle like some oriental den.
"Fasad, vit", rölakan [flat weave]
designed by Marianne Richter in 1963