Lot #64: Rare 1940s Latvian Folk Art & Textile Craft Publications – Frīdrihs Vīksne (1949) & Latvju

Rare 1940s Latvian Folk Art & Textile Craft Publications – Frīdrihs Vīksne (1949) & Latvju Zeltene This lot features a highly desirable pair of vintage publications dedicated to traditional Latvian ethnographic design, weaving patterns, and folklore crafts. Together, they form a vital historical record of Latvian material culture and textile arts preserved during the mid-20th century. • Publication 1: Latvisku Audumu Paraugi (Samples of Latvian Weavings) • Author: Frīdrihs Vīksne (Diplomēts Mākslinieks-Grafiķis / Certified Graphic Artist) • Year: 1949 • Edition: Author's self-published edition (Autora Izdevums) • Language: Latvian (with multilingual copyright warnings in German and English) • Content: An exquisite reference manual compiled on grid paper layouts, featuring detailed traditional Latvian weaving charts, geometric borders, and traditional mitten cuffs (Cimda Valnis). • Publication 2: Latvju Zeltene (The Latvian Maiden) Compilation Pages • Language: Latvian • Content: Practical pattern guides and lifestyle design features for ethnic costumes and domestic embroidery. Includes sections titled "Moderna blūzīte latviskā rotājumā" (Modern Blouse with Latvian Ornamentation), "Spilvena raksts" (Pillow Patterns for Multi-Colored Embroidery), and "Tautiskie motīvi dāmu un bērnu tērpu rotāšanai" (National Motifs for Decorating Women's and Children's Attire). • The Author (Frīdrihs Vīksne): Vīksne was a highly respected graphic artist and ethnographer dedicated to cataloging Baltic folk aesthetics. His works are highly regarded for their precise, academic recording of complex, centuries-old geometric weaving compositions, preserving them for future generations. • The Publisher & Era: The 1949 publication of Latvisku Audumu Paraugi is an "Autora Izdevums" (Author's Private Edition), indicating a limited print run overseen directly by Vīksne himself. Given the profound socio-political disruptions in Latvia during the late 1940s, cultural items printed in this specific window—especially self-published works keeping traditional identity alive—are increasingly scarce. • Linguistic Value: Both books are written natively in Latvian, serving as authentic linguistic and ethnographic capsules. Notably, Vīksne's book features an inner notice in Latvian, German, and English stating: "Author's authorization is necessary for large-scale industrial production." This reflects the post-WWII reality of Baltic diaspora communities or artisans seeking to commercialize these patterns abroad. • Highly Visual Reference Material: The detailed, high-contrast structural charts (such as the Graubica regional mitten cuff patterns) make these items actively usable for modern weavers, textile historians, costume designers, and folk revivalists. Pickup category timeslot {A}