A Vararfeldur for Auŏr the Deep Minded - PART 1

In February 2019, I spent three weeks at the Icelandic Textile Centre in Blönduós in northern Iceland. As an artist and shepherdess of Hebridean North Atlantic sheep, my aspirations were two fold yet twined together as a tabby weave.

In the first instance, I spent time on Icelandic sheep farms learning about their animal husbandry while at the Textile Centre I creatively explored the material qualities of Icelandic North Atlantic sheep fleece. It was during this time that I learned of the viking vararfeldur woven cloak and how the nature of the North Atlantic sheep fleece lent itself to the creation of this piled textile. In addition, my research introduced me to the strong historic and genetic links between the Hebrides and Iceland and most importantly the story of Auðr.

You can read about my time at the Icelandic Textile Centre in my blog from last year HERE and if you are interested find out more about my art work HERE.

Since my time in Iceland, I have continued to research Auðr’s life, the vikings in the Hebrides and North Atlantic sheep. My research led me to spend time at Osterøy Museum, near Bergen, Norway during February – March 2020 where I received instruction on a warp weighted loom and wove a vararfeldur cloak.

There is so much to this story that I have decided to break this blog into two parts:

Part 1 – Auðr’s story, the direct links between the Hebrides and the settlement of Iceland. The story is interwoven with that of the North Atlantic sheep, the significance of wool to Viking culture and the role that these sheep played in the advancement of the Norse people.

Part 2 – My creative response to this Hebridean-Norse voyage, including weaving a vararfeldur on a warp weighted loom and my forthcoming Auðr (Aud/Unnr) the Deepminded art exhibition.

This research will be presented at:

Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Art Gallery, North Uist, Outer Hebrides during 2nd October – 27th November 2020

Osterøy Museum, Norway during June – August 2021

Auðr’s story

Auðr (Aud/Unnr) the Deep Minded was an outstanding Norse female leader who lived in the mid 9th Century in Norway, the Hebrides and Iceland. Though she lived over 1000 years ago, her story of bravery, strength and honour is still relevant today.

Her story is laid out in the Laxdaela Saga and referenced in Íslendingabók and Landnámabók.

Auðr was one of the most significant women within these medieval texts. Her family were powerful Viking leaders across the Hebrides, Scotland and Ireland. She later converted to Christianity and led her people from conflict in Scotland to Iceland.

Auðr’s story begins in north-west Norway as the daughter of Ketill Flatnefr. Around the mid 9th century King Harald Fairhair rose to power and conflict spread across the Hebrides.

Auðr had a relationship with Olaf the White of Dublin, resulting in their son Thorstein the Red. She later became a Christian and is described as devout and influential.

Laxdaela Saga describes Auðr’s escape and leadership, noting her wealth and strength.

She had a ship built in secret and loaded it with treasure. She took her relatives with her, and few women escaped such danger with so much wealth.

(Anderson 1922: 379)

Auðr travelled via Orkney and the Faroes before settling in Iceland, where she granted land to her freed slaves and became one of the most important female settlers in Icelandic history.

The Outer Hebrides and Iceland

The Viking expansion moved through Orkney, Shetland, the Hebrides, Faroes and finally Iceland. Genetic evidence supports strong Hebridean female ancestry in Icelandic populations.

North Atlantic Sheep and Viking Wool Culture

North Atlantic sheep were essential to Viking life, providing wool for clothing, sails, and vararfeldur cloaks made on warp-weighted looms.

These garments were vital for survival in harsh North Atlantic conditions.

Their distribution mirrors Viking migration routes across the North Atlantic.

References

Anderson (1922) Early Sources of Scottish History

Bender Jørgensen (2012) The Introduction of Sails to Scandinavia

Chessa et al. (2011) Science

Hákonardóttir et al. (2016) The Warp-Weighted Loom

Helgason et al. (2001) AJHG

Jennings & Kruse (2009) Viking and Medieval Scandinavia