(Wood & Sons) NORWEGIAN AMERICAN MUSEUM VESTERHEIM Decora, Iowa for Sale

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(Wood & Sons) NORWEGIAN AMERICAN MUSEUM VESTERHEIM Decora, Iowa For Sale

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(Wood & Sons) NORWEGIAN AMERICAN MUSEUM VESTERHEIM Decora, Iowa:
$22.00

This vintage Wood & Sons dinner plate is a beautiful addition to any collection. Made in England in 1977, this limited edition plate features a blue and white floral design, commemorating the centennial of the Norwegian American Museum in Vesterheim, Iowa. The plate is made of fine porcelain and is a true work of art.

The round plate is perfect for any occasion and is sure to impress guests. The backstamp is printed and the production technique is pottery. This plate is a part of the Wood & Sons product line and is an original, not a licensed reproduction. The plate is ideal for collectors of blue and white pottery and is a perfect way to celebrate the late 20th century.

Museum History

In 1877, Norwegian Americans began collecting and preserving objects at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, documenting their chapter of the immigrant story, making them pioneers in the preservation of cultural diversity in America. That early collection has grown into one of the most comprehensive museums in the United States dedicated to a single immigrant group—Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, now an independent not-for-profit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM).

Ties between Norwegians and Norwegian Americans have always remained close, so it would be natural for Norway and its cultural institutions to maintain a close connection to Vesterheim throughout the museum’s history. Norway has been generous with its gifts of artifacts. Many folk artists have come to Vesterheim to teach traditional techniques. Norwegian organizations and artists host visits and events during Vesterheim tours to their country. Norway’s Royal Family and government officials have visited the museum many times, and His Majesty King Harald V is the museum’s Honorary Board Chair.

A significant gift of historical objects from Norwegian museums for “the Norwegian people in America” came in 1925 to mark the 100th anniversary of Norwegian emigration. The gift, which took two years to assemble, ultimately filled 23 crates when it crossed over the ocean to the United States in 1927. The coordinator of the entire project was Anders Sandvig, founder of the Maihaugen collection in Lillehammer, Norway. Sandvig expressed his purpose in organizing such an effort by writing, “May these objects work so that the Norwegian-ness in you will not die too soon, and the connection with the homeland will because of this be tighter. Receive this gift as proof that we follow you all in our hearts, even though the big Atlantic Ocean parts us.”