Book Report: Íslensk sjónabók

Let's take a peek into our vast and wide-ranging collection of books!

The sjónabók manuscripts are a collection of traditional Icelandic textile patterns from the 17-19th centuries. Encouraged by the attendees of a Nordic handcrafts conference in 2007 after they visited the National Museum of Iceland, a collaboration formed between the National Museum of Iceland, Icelandic Handcraft Association, and Department of Design and Architecture at the Iceland Academy of the Arts in order to organize the patterns into a cohesive publication. Íslensk sjónabók is the beautiful end result of that partnership.

Íslensk sjónabók, Ornaments and Patterns Found in Iceland.
Editors: Birna Geirfinnsdóttir & Guðmundur Oddur Magnússon

Unlike the vast majority of books in our collection acquired via thrift stores or friends decluttering, Íslensk sjónabók was a gift from my husband in 2018 while on vacation in Iceland. I still do not fully comprehend how he saw this book, bought it, carried it around for 10 days, and brought it home without my noticing. It is...hefty.

Just two nerds at a waterfall.

The book is beautifully bound with a metallic copper fabric cover and all over star pattern in black ink. Instead of chapters, Íslensk sjónabók is divided into 10 parts, each representing one of the 10 manuscripts in the sjónabók collection.

Blankets at the Heimilisiðnaðarsafnið Textile Museum

The patterns are represented over two facing pages, with the left a traditional chart in black Xs on a white grid, and the right colorized and repeated. The charts are intended for use in embroidery, weaving, or knitting. I am, unsurprisingly, particularly drawn to the patterns that evoke overshot weavings.

Pattern from Part 9: Skaftafellsbók, a Sjónabók by Jón Einarsson (c. 1731-1798)

I'll be honest--I don't think I could ever appreciate every single design in the book unless real time was dedicated to it. It makes me feel incredibly inspired and completely overwhelmed. That said, it is stunning and I am forever grateful to have it in my library.

I love history, I love textiles, and I love good design, and Íslensk sjónabók has all 3 in spades.

Pattern from Part 1: Sjónabók by Ragnheiður Jónsdóttir (c. 1646-1715)

Unfortunately, (and surprisingly), the book seems to be out of print despite its fairly recent publication. (I'd be lying if I said I didn't love it even more once I found that out.) Bailey found a link on archive.org, though, if you want a glimpse (albeit a digital one) of the contents. In the mean time, I'll be figuring out a way to work one of the many, many 8 pointed star motifs into my next project!