1000 CE Finnish “Eura” Dress 4

Intro:

A fragmentary grave find of a Finnish dress.  Style consists of an under tunic, an over dress of two rectangles of fabric and an apron.  The layers are decorated with tablet weaving and metal coils.  The grave find also was rich in metal artifacts

Description:

The complexity of this garment is in the decoration and accessories.  The basic garment layers are exceedingly simple.

Under tunic:  the base layer under tunic would most likely have been flax or nettle linen.  It consists of 6 pieces, front and back panels, under arm gores extending into the sleeves and the sleeves that extend from hand to neckline.

Overdress:  the over dress is related to other Norse dresses as well as stylistically similar to a peplos.  It is two rectangles that are folded over at the top, pinned at the shoulders and stitched or pinned at the sides. This layer is likely wool in a tabby weave and decorated by tablet weaving.

Apron: The apron is folded over a belt and was likely wool.  The notable thing about the aprons are their decorations made from coils of wire attached at the edges and along the bottom in a variety of styles and decorations. 

Accessories:

Metal coiled arm bracelets (a very close approximation was sold as costume jewelry recently and can still be found)

Necklace made from coins and lampwork beads

Knife sheath and “puco” knife

Eura is a region in south west Finland.  Many graves have been excavated in Luistari in the 1960’s and 70’s.  Fabric reminants were preserved due to oxides from the metal finds. Grave 56 was a focus of attention because the metal preserved enough of the fabric in key points to allow for a reconstruction with some certainty

Inspiration Images

Ensemble Components

Accessories

Source/Links

http://www.katajahovi.org/en/costumes.html

http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/FTP_Files/Ancient_Finnish_Costumes.PDF

Version: 2
date: 2/26/2021
Source of Period Pic:
Model:
Photographer: Vincent de Vere