Norwegian Museum of Cultural History
I once found myself walking through Norwegian Nostalgia. It only took me a 20 minute bus ride from the city centre and 120 NOK to travel back in time. I know right? It's that easy! Stepping into the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History in Oslo was a delightful experience. The museum houses over 160 buildings relocated from different eras and regions of Norway. I spent almost a whole day here trying to envision what life was like in the olden days. I was surprised how little I knew, and how interesting it was to learn more.
In the old days, Timber was widely used for the structure of a typical Scandinavian farmstead. Turf is then laid to form the thick walls and as a cover for the roof. It was also common to grow grass on the roof of houses. The grass held the turf down, as the turf also served to be a good insulation keeping the houses warm during the colder months and cooler in the summer. This technique has been used for the construction of commoner's dwellings, especially for the poor or lower classes.
The guide dressed in a traditional costume asked "What do you guys think this is used for?" The crowd had different answers, but it actually was a mangle board and a rolling pin. No one can say exactly when people started to iron clothes. Meanwhile, people in Northern Europe were using stones, glass and wood for smoothing. These boards were often carved by a young man as a special gift for his bride-to-be.
The viking era had developed the technique and tradition of combining art with wood working. This was culminated in the stave churches. The common element to all of them are the corner posts (Staver in Norwegian), hence the name. The Gol Stave Church was constructed in the 1200's where it was built made out of pillars to support the roof. It was relocated from Gol in Hallingdal, re-erected for the second time and now part of the Norsk Folkemuseum.
During the summer months, the whole place is tended by hosts dressed in traditional costumes who are engaged in re-enacting a typical Norwegian life in a day. You will see children in a school setting where boys are playing with their tin toys and girls learning to knit. A father training his son at the farms, kids fetching water, cooking, and more. The hosts will guide you to what they are doing and answer questions you might have. Or just simply observe and be taken back in time.
The "alcohol queue" has been a familiar part of everyday Norwegian life even up to now. In the late 1920s and 30s, the Wine Monopoly installed queue-organizers in the shops. They had the Three-step purchasing system where customers ordered the items they wanted and paid for them at the cashier's desk. The items were then fetched, packed and delivered to the customer upon presentation of the receipt. The Wine and Spirit Monopoly eventually discontinued this system around the 1960s.
The painting and decorating trade has undergone a great change over the past years. The painter's working day, his tools and tasks have changed significantly. While "everybody" hired a painter to paint and decorate their home in 1865 or in 1920, very few in Norway do the same thing today.
Ready-made paint did not exist in 1865. The painters would grind the pigment colours themselves, they would make their own binders such as oils and glue.
Interior fashion changed. At the end of the 19th century, abundantly decorated floors and ceilings were the height of fashion whereas a much simpler style with wall papered walls, linoleum floors and white neutral ceilings became the preference a few years later.
Look at those hairpin leg planters on the corner! (insert heart eyes emoji).
The Scandinavian design has been perhaps most widely recognised in furniture, which spread the principles of its creators. In terms of the new shapes seen in furniture, lighting and accessories of the 1950s, the main distinguishing characteristic of the "Contemporary" style was its strongly organic curvilinear quality. It was amazing to see the actual transitions of the architecture and interior designs.
Overall, I enjoyed the visit to this museum. There was so much to see and experience at your own pace, which I loved. The progression that Norway had undergone through the years was clearly depicted here. The development of the country seems to fit the "rags to riches" narrative, helping to explain the transformation from a poor nation into a wealthy and independent Nordic state.
As most would say one must not dwell on the past, It can also be good to look back and see positive change and progress.
