Historical Icelandic dress set to return home after 150 years abroad

A remarkable historical Icelandic dress, made around 1800, is set to return to Iceland after being lost abroad for nearly 150 years. This elegant faldbúningur, crafted by Guðrún Skúladóttir, will be showcased at the National Museum of Iceland next year.

Originally taken from Iceland in 1809, the dress was believed to be lost following a ship accident near Reykjanes. It was thought that even if passengers survived, the wedding dress was likely destroyed in the fire that ensued.

The garment was rediscovered more than a century later in 1963 by Elsa E. Guðjónsson, a prominent textile expert. During a visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, she came across a description that closely matched Guðrún’s dress. To her surprise, the dress was found intact among the museum’s collections, having been sold by the family of the British botanist who had taken it to England.

This dress is significant for its craftsmanship and embodies historical insights into women’s roles, class structures, and the interest foreign explorers had in Icelandic attire.

Recently, the Icelandic government allocated 25 million krónur to facilitate the dress’s return. This funding will help cover transportation costs and support research for an exhibition planned for 2026, which will highlight women’s traditional costumes. The garment will serve as a centerpiece for this exhibition, underscoring its uniqueness and cultural importance, as no similar piece exists in the country.