Lilli Zickerman

In 1914, she embarked on the creation of an inventory of popular textile art in Sweden, documenting some 24,000 items with photographs and samples of threads by 1932.

After studying sewing and weaving at the school run by the Friends of Handicraft in Stockholm, she returned to Skövde in 1886 where she taught textile arts and, collaborating with Agnes Behmer, opened an embroidery shop selling their works and patterns.

[2] Inspired by the rural textiles displayed at the Nordic Museum, in 1899 she established the Swedish Handicraft Association (Föreningen för svensk hemslöjd), with a board chaired by Prince Eugen and including the artist Ottilia Adelborg, the women's rights activist Elisabeth Tamm and other prominent Swedes.

The organization gradually expanded, offering attractive, high-quality aesthetic works based on traditional techniques such as upholstery, curtains and rugs.

Working in the field, she catalogued 24,000 items complete with black and white photographs and samples of thread to indicate colour and texture.