The Double-Sided Vararfeldr
This luxurious double-sided cloak took my experimental archeology to a new level! Only a few fragments of double-sided pile-woven textile have been discovered by archaeologists, some of which are housed in the Folkebibliotek in Trondheim. There are also images in John Derricke's much later “Image of Irelande”, which includes a wood block print showing nobles in mantles with shaggy texturing to the inside and outside.
I used this scant information to imagine a double-sided vararfeldr, with double the warmth and softness of the Gragas-prescribed cloaks. This was a challenging weave, as I had to keep running round behind the loom to insert the tufts into both sides.
The white fleece is longer and waxier, making it ideal for an "outer" edge, which would repel the rain well. The brown fleece is softer and denser, making for a beautiful thermal lining. I think this sort of textile would have been sought-after by wealthy Viking landowners who wanted to make an impression.
The cloak is included in my Vararfeldr exhibition, which is currently touring across the UK and Europe.
