Birgit Wessel

Birgit Hanna Maria Wessel also Birgit Mattsson Wessel (1911–2000) was a Norwegian textile artist. In 1937 she established a weaving studio in Oslo and the following year, together with her husband Bjarne Eugen Wessel, opened Vakkre Hjem, a store where many of their fabrics were sold. She designed curtains, furniture fabrics, tablecloths and carpets to be produced by Norway's leading textile factories. Her textiles were used for several major decoration projects, including the royal yacht K/S Norge and Oslo City Hall (1950). In 1959, Wessel received the Norwegian craft award, the Jacob Prize.

Early life Born in Stockholm on 10 October 1911, Birgit Hanna Maria was the daughter of Carin Mattsson and K. Hilmer, a civil engineer. From 1932 to 1937, she studied at Konstfack in Stockholm under the Swedish textile artist (1872–1955). During her studies, she gained practical experience in Båstad with the Swedish textile artist Märta Måås-Fjetterström (1873–1941). In 1936, she married the interior designer Bjarne Eugen Wessel.

Career On graduating, Wessel moved to Norway in 1937 and established a weaving studio in Oslo. In 1939, it was relocated to central premised on Hausmanns Gate. In 1938, together with her husband, the interior architect and furniture designer Bjarne Wessel, she opened an arts and crafts shop on Tordenskjolds Gate known as Vakre Hjem (Beautiful Home). and in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Birgit Wessel died in Oslo on 26 October 2000.

Awards In 1959, Wessel received the Jacob Prize, a Norwegian craft award. In 1970, her "Bukett" woven curtain designed for Halden received the Mark for Good Design.