Viola Gråsten
Viola Hildegard Gråsten (born Forsberg; 18 November 1910 – 20 October 1994) was a Swedish textile designer. She studied for four years at the Central School of Crafts in Helsinki until 1936, after which she worked as a designer at the Friends of Finnish Handicraft. In 1944, because of wartime yarn shortages in Finland, she moved to Sweden and designed shaggy rugs for Textiles & Interiors in Stockholm.
Also recorded as Viola Hildegard Gråsten · Viola Hildegard Forsberg
Viola Gråsten
Foto: Erik Holmén · Med tillstånd från Nordiska Museet. · CC BY 4.0
- Name
- Viola Gråsten
- Birth Name
- Viola Hildegard Forsberg
- Born
- 18 November 1910
- Birthplace
- Keuruu, Finland
- Died
- 20 October 1994
- Education
- Central School of Crafts in Helsinki
- Field
- Textile design
- Awards
- Prince Eugen Medal (1973)
- Spouse
- Nils Robert Waldemar Öhquist
- Nationality
- Sweden · Finland
- Occupation
- textile artist · designer
- Honours
- Prince Eugen Medal
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Documentary summary
Viola Hildegard Gråsten (born Forsberg; 18 November 1910 – 20 October 1994) was a Swedish textile designer. She studied for four years at the Central School of Crafts in Helsinki until 1936, after which she worked as a designer at the Friends of Finnish Handicraft. In 1944, because of wartime yarn shortages in Finland, she moved to Sweden and designed shaggy rugs for Textiles & Interiors in Stockholm.
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Documentary evidence
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Authority files
wikidata · Q2646376 · wikipedia · Viola Gråsten
In this article
Biography
Biography
A year later she took a post at the NK Textile Studio, where she began to design patterns for textiles and made a reputation for her colourful geometric designs. In 1950, she received Swedish citizenship. In 1956 she became artistic director of fashion textiles at Mölnlycke Weavers, where she stayed until her retirement in 1973. Gråsten was awarded the Prince Eugen Medal for design in 1973.
Viola Gråsten studied at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. The recorded working language is Finnish. Work by Viola Gråsten is recorded in the collections of Art Institute of Chicago, Nationalmuseum, Museum of Modern Art and TextielMuseum. Distinctions recorded are Prince Eugen Medal.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Viola Gråsten • Birth Name — Viola Hildegard Forsberg • Born — 18 November 1910 • Birthplace — Keuruu, Finland • Died — 20 October 1994 • Other Names — Viola Gråsten-Öhquist • Citizenship — * Finland • Sweden • Education — Central School of Crafts in Helsinki • Field — Textile design • Awards — Prince Eugen Medal (1973) • Spouse — Nils Robert Waldemar Öhquist
Gallery
Gallery
• Illustration — A blanket from Tidstrand's Wool Factories designed by Viola Gråsten. • Illustration — Viola Gråsten's pattern on a dress from around 1955.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1910
Viola Gråsten was born on 18 November 1910.
1994
Viola Gråsten died on 20 October 1994.
Places
Named by the record
Places
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Keuruu.
Birth place
Stockholm.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Viola Gråsten”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q2646376: Viola Gråsten
General reference · Wikidata
References
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References
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reference work
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General reference
Further particulars
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Further particulars
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The authorities additionally record the headings Viola Hildegard Gråsten and Viola Hildegard Forsberg. Her recorded languages were Finnish and Swedish. Gråsten received Prince Eugen Medal.
Identity and origins
Recognition and collections
Work by Viola Gråsten is
Art Institute of Chicago, Nationalmuseum, Museum of Modern Art and TextielMuseum
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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