SELMA GIÖBEL

THE SWEDISH LADIES’ COMMITTE,

WORLD'S COLUMBlAN EXPOSITION AT CHICAGO, 1893

Patroness: Her Majesty

The Queen Sophia

Mrs Ellen Anckarsvärd, Thorborg Rappe, Ellen Fries,

Miss Gertrud Adelborg, Miss Ottilia Adelborg, Sophie Adlersparre, Miss Sofia Gisberg, Miss Selma Giöbel, Miss Sofia Gumaelius, Miss Berta Hübner, Mrs Anna Maria Höjer, Miss Hulda Lundin, Mrs Agda Montelius, Miss Anna Roos, Miss Mathilda Roos,

Report; Ellen Fries.

THE WORLD'S COLUMBlAN EXPOSITION AT CHICAGO 1893, And the Leading Industri Svensk Konstslöjdutställning in Stockholm 1896, (started in 1880) and Selma was the owner and leader 1885 - 1898.The beginning here was also insignificant. Led by natural talents, Miss Giöbel began wood sculpture as a pastime especially that kind so profusely used in Sweden on the small chests, wardrobes, and household utensils of the peasantry, and therefore

called allmogestil or peasant style. This consists of geometric designs, stars, circles, squares, and triangles, combined in innumerable ways. This national style, as well as the peasant textile styles, was not used outside of the peasant homes.

Miss Giöbel’s great merit is that she used and developed it for numerous modern ornamental purposes, and introduced it as an article of trade. As it combines easy execution with ornamental effect, several higher schools for girls have introduced it in their slöjdprogram, and in many homes both old and young devote themselves to its practice. Already about 1884 it had become a good medium for increasing the regular income of many women, it was even for some the principal means of support and has continued to be so ever since.

The majority of Swedish homes are decorated with this kind of work, in the form of easels, boxes, caskets, portfolios, rulers etc. Still there are no special proofs of this slöjd in the Swedish pavilion, at the Chicago Exposition except Miss Giöbel’s exhibit.

After Miss Giöbel had won a high reputation as a sculptor in wood, she began to make profitable use of other kinds of national art, and opened a permanent Artistic Slöjd Exhibition in large and beautiful rooms. It consists of furniture in the Old Peasant, Renaissance, and modern styles, arranged among weavings and decorative needlework, distinguished by fine compositions and color taken from antique models and still displaying something fresh and new in spirit.

S. GIÖBEL, STOCKHOLM, monter 1893. Selma Giöbel was a pioneer in Swedish textile art and one of the late 1800's foremost pattern creators. In wood carving (carvin wood), she was pioneering. At the World Exhibition in Chicago in 1893 with her company S.K.U., Swedish art gallery exhibition, S. Giöbel. She participated as the only woman with her own Swedish company. She gained great success in Sweden and abroad and gained a great importance for the Swedish artistic development. The life of Selma Giöbel, 1873-1920, (born 1843 died 1925)

The ladies’ committee, which under the patronage of her Majesty the Queen, has worked for the participation of the Swedish woman in the exposition at Chicago, has also tried to collect statements touching as well the legal position of the Swedish woman as her work within different spheres of activity. A work called, The social condition of the Swedish woman has been complied, containing a short review of the position of the Swedish woman, from older times, both socially and legally, a chronological exposition of the legislation from 1845 as it affects women, and finally an account of the activity of women´s associations and societies in the present time. Handarbetets Vänner (Friends of Art Handiwork). In order to arouse the people’s interest, exhibitions were arranged in Sweden, the first in 1874. Simultaneously, the society called Handarbetets Vänner (Friends of Art Handiwork) was formed by interested ladies through the exertions of Baroness Adlersparre. Financial difficulties, however, were such that it was first in 1887 that the society could be definitely organized, and its present rules adopted. The Society’s designers were Mrs Hanna Winge, Miss M. Rothlieb, Miss S. Giöbel, Mrs Clason, född Petre, Miss Wästberg and Miss Widebäck have been the principal designers.

Miss Giöbel has an unusually gifted designer for needlework, Miss Maria Adelborg.

Selma was a board member of Handarbetets Vänner (Friends of Art Handiwork) from 1874 until 1885, and she was also a teacher there.

1893 Chicago womans building, Selma Giöbel represented Sweden in many World Expositions and Expositions in her own country Sweden between

1874 - 1920. Swedish catalogue, World's Columbian Exposition, 1893, Chicago, Selma Giöbel.

Medelvägens Estetik Jeff Werner Sverigebilder i USA. Selma Giöbels monter i Chicago 1893.