Horne, Funen
Horne
Horne is both a town and a parish (sogn) in the former Svendborg County, Funen.
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Its folk costume is unusual in that the man's costume is perhaps more famous than the woman's costume.
Men's Horne
Regarding headgear, the man's costume uses the variegated, striped hat ("Nikolør"s hat") used in southern Funen and on the South Funen Archipelago. The knee breeches are typically made of deerskin.​
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It is difficult to imagine a more daring and bold fabric pattern in Danish men's garb. If Lyø's men's vest is a neon sign, then Horne is a neon sign in Times Square. Brash and unapologetic, this costume is the proud peacock of men's attire!
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The key elements of the men's costume:
a. Vest and Jacket: Made of hvergarn (wool/linen). When you look at its hypnotic pattern, the eye senses ORANGE! However, upon closer inspection, the pattern consists of crimson red and yellow stripes close together. It is bold and distinctive!
b. Breeches: white or cream deerskin
c. Hat: Nikolør's hat
d. Shoes: wooden
Circa 1800
In all seriousness, if this isn't the greatest Danish men's costume, I challenge you to show me a better one! This gentleman has the correct hat, he has a jacket that matches the vest. He has the stereotypical cream leather breeches. Best of all, the Horne fabric pattern is the most hypnotic and intoxicating calamanco pattern mankind ever laid eyes on. It is a feast for the senses and I wish it were not as rare as it is, because it may be Denmark's best.
Image Credit: Amager Folkedansere
Image credit: We owe an immense debt of gratitude to Morten Hansen for so generously providing this image and the ones immediately below for the benefit of those who want to enjoy and appreciate this remarkable and stunning Horne vest pattern! This fabric was reportedly purchased in the late 1970s from a Copenhagen homeweaver who offered a choice of two men's Horne vest patterns. I am told that the pattern above was the less common of the two Horne fabric patterns. The vest (and costume) was handmade by Mr. Hansen over a 3-year period with a painstaking eye for detail.
Image credit: Morten Hansen
Image credit: Morten Hansen
Image credit: Morten Hansen
Image Credit: Folkedragt.dk
Image Credit: Faaborg Folk Dancers
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This is reportedly the more commonly seen of the two Horne men's fabric patterns. It is possible or even likely that the black section above should actually be dark green.
Image credit: Morten Hansen
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This is reportedly the less commonly seen of the two Horne men's fabric patterns. I believe that the stripes of black should actually be hunter green.
Image credit: Morten Hansen
Women's Horne
Elements of the women's costume:
a. sleeved jacket (ærmetrøjer): it was made of woven hvergarn (wool/linen), not knitted like a sweater. It was closed at the front with hooks.
b. breast bib/insert: Made of hvergarn (wool/linen). Its hallmark feature is the dazzling calamanco pattern above the bodice. At first blush it appears to be somewhat ORANGE. But is it? Yellow and orange-red stripes may create something of an optical illusion. There's nothing like it in the Danish women's repertoire!
c. headgear: a black cap for church, or a white linen "eye cloth" (øjenklæde) to protect from the sun.
d. skirt: black wool with a green silk ribbon at the bottom edge.
e. apron: hvergarn (wool/linen).
Horne woman in festive costume
Image credit: Faaborg Folk Dancers
Festive costume.
The woman photographed is wearing a remarkably true replica of the drawing below. Amazing!
Image credit: Faaborg Folk Dancers
This drawing represents the costumes as of 1800
Image credit: "Folkedragter" by Minna Kragelund, 1978
Image Credit: Mikael Bjerregaard
