Árbók Hins íslenzka fornleifafélags - 01.01.1977, Page 128

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ÁRBÓK FORNLEIFAFÉLAGSINS
1914, it seems to have escaped the notice of foreign scholars writing on the
subject until Marta Hoffmann wrote her book, Tlie Warp-Weighted Loom (publis-
hed in 1964), where she, among other, discussed the special features of the Ice-
landic loom, comparing in detail the two pictures.7 The same year she also publis-
hed a special study on this subject.8
Three years earlier, however, in 1961, a profusely illustrated volume covering
events from 1761—1800, had been published in Iceland,8 on page 124 of which
there was a drawing of an Icelandic warp-weighted ioom (Figure 1), very si-
milar to the two above mentioned pictures. This drawing was printed from a
manuscript of Olavius’ diary from his travels in Iceland in 1777, now in the
National Archives of Iceland (Þjskjs.) Rtk 492,10 believed to be in his own
handwriting.11
The present author is not aware of any printed references to Olavius being
a draughtsman. When comparing the above drawing, however, and other draw-
ings in tlie diary with a separate drawing which Olavius, according to an acc-
ompanying letter written by him, executed himself during his travels in 1775,12
it seems most likely that Olavius made the drawing of the loom in Rtk. 492
himself.13 This is supported also by some details in the drawing which differ
from that by Sæmundur in Nks. 1093 fol.,c/. the closing paragraph of the pre-
sent paper. As the picture was printed in the above mentioned publication
without explanations as to origin, it was thought useful to print it again, to-
gether with the other two (Figures 3 and 4), for comparison.
While searching for information about the drawings, yet one (Figure 2) was
found to exist in another copy of Olavius’ diary from 1777, also apparently in
his handwriting, in the Royal Library in Copenhagen, Nks. 1092 fol.14'15 This
drawing differs still somewhat from the others, although closely related, especi-
ally —■ in arrangement of the loom parts and in mode of execution — to the
one in Iítk. 492, thus most likely being also the work of Olavius himself.
Although the main purpose of this short article is to present the four pictures
together for further study, some brief comments on them might be made before
closing. From the information available and from the pictures themselves it
seems most likely that the drawing in Þjskjs. Rtk. 492 (Figure 1) is the earliest
of them, and the one in Nks. 1092 fol. (Figure 2) the next. On the model which
Sæmundur Hólm received from Olavius for his drawing in Nks. 1093 fol. 1778,
(Figure 3) the loom must have been similar to that in Nks. 1092 fol., although
Sæmundur’s drawing shows important differences, among them some which must
be consiaered errors, for instance in connection with the heddle rod supports,
meiðmar, and the heddle rods, sköft. In the engraving from 1780 (Figure 4) these
and some other details have been corrected, and on it is also to be found the same
kind of marking (with letters) as on the drawing in Rtk. 492, while the more
inclusive numerical marking on the drawing from 1778 has been discarded.
It seems not unlikely that Olavius, who himself read the last proofs of most of
the book,16 decided on these matters.