Skinnfell: traditional sheepskin cover

A skinnfell is an animal hide with its fleece retained, often used as a warm cover or bedding. Norwegian craft practice includes sewing several sheepskins together, with the wool facing the body. The skin side could carry printed decoration. It should therefore be distinguished from a woven blanket, even when both served as bedcovers.

Norges Husflidslag describes joining skins and block printing as aspects of the maker's work. Nordlandsmuseet shows a carved skinnfellrose used to stamp motifs onto the skin side. In this context, skinnfellrose, felltre and printing block name the tool rather than the cover itself.

Photograph both sides when assessing an older example. Examine seams, edges, surviving prints and damage to skin and wool. Similar motifs may offer a lead but do not alone establish a particular maker or date. The number of skins and decoration vary; one museum example is not a universal specification.

Sources: Norges Husflidslag: Blokktrykk og skinnfellens billedverden; Nordlandsmuseet: Skinnfellrose.