Brúðarbúningurinn: Leiðsögn meistara í kjóla- og búningasaum🦋

‍The National Museum of Iceland offers an exciting programme of events every Sunday throughout the winter and spring months. On the first Sunday of each month, there is a programme for children and families. On other Sundays, museum specialists offer guided tours of the museum’s exhibitions, while on the last Sunday of each month, the specialist-led tour is conducted in a foreign language.

Join Guðrún Hildur Rosenkjær, historian and master dress and costume maker, for a special guided tour exploring the craftsmanship behind the Bridal Costume on Sunday, October 18th, at 14:00. She will share the most significant discoveries from her research, offering unique insights into the garment's construction, materials, and sewing techniques.

Long believed to have been lost in a shipwreck off the coast of Iceland in 1809, one of the most elaborate women's costumes in Icelandic history was unexpectedly rediscovered in 1963 in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. This remarkable find marked a turning point in the study of historic Icelandic costume.

For many years, Guðrún Hildur has devoted her work to the research, reconstruction, and interpretation of Icelandic dress. Combining meticulous archival research with hands-on experimental reconstruction, she recreates garments, textiles, and historical techniques to answer questions that written sources alone cannot. Working alongside goldsmith Ásmundur Kristjánsson, who recreated the costume's jewellery, she has undertaken an in-depth study of the Bridal Costume, contributing significant new knowledge about its construction and materials.

Guðrún Hildur has also researched the life of Guðrún Skúladóttir, known as the "Mother of Flowers", who was celebrated for her exceptional needlework. Several of her works are preserved in the National Museum of Iceland, including the skirt featured in the Bridal Costume on display. During the tour, Guðrún Hildur will discuss her key research findings, explain the intricate craftsmanship behind the costume, and highlight the social position of Guðrún Skúladóttir and other women of her time.

Please note this event is in Icelandic.

The tour is included with museum admission. Please note that your admission ticket also serves as an annual pass, giving you unlimited access to the museum's exhibitions and events for one year from the date of purchase. Admission to all exhibitions and events is free for children and young people under 18 years of age.