Traditional “Rose Painted” Twin Horse Headed Kasa

Traditional “Rose Painted” Twin Horse Headed Kasa
With Inscribed Rim and Floral Motifs
Solid Dug Out and Carved Birchwood

Norwegian c. 1860

5.25” high x 13.5” wide x 8.5” deep

Ref: 36/10

A really lovely example of fluent “rosemaling” decoration on an unusual mid nineteenth century ceremonial Kasa or “Kjenge”. Of classic twin horse headed form, this example is dug out and hand carved from a single solid piece of birch wood. The horses heads and necks are low slung and elongated and have some stylised incised decoration to the heads. The body is comprehensively decorated with fluent and colourful foliate and floral motifs beneath rim inscriptions to both sides. Ceremonial vessels of this type were generally individually created for the Wedding Feast and were used as communal loving cups, passed around the table for each guest to drink the health and happiness of the betrothed couple. The tradition dates back to Viking times and the horse has long been recognised in Norse Folklore to represent Strength, Loyalty, Virility and to represent power over evil.