1890 Rosa Asmundsen

Inspiration to this design I found from Nordic collections and I see it as a apron fabric.

Rosa Asmundsen – 19th-Century Norwegian Actress and Opera Singer

Rosa Anna Charlotte Asmundsen, née Baldani, was born on December 29, 1846, in Christiania (now Oslo), Norway. She was the daughter of Giovanni Baldani, an Italian plaster manufacturer, and Anna Eriksdatter. Rosa married prominent Norwegian actor Jacob Hveding Asmundsen (1841–1910), and their son, Sigurd Asmundsen, also became a respected actor—continuing the family's contribution to Norwegian theatre.

Asmundsen launched her acting career as a child prodigy on the stage of the Christiania Theatre, one of the most prestigious venues in 19th-century Norway. Her early roles included Egil in The Vikings at Helgeland (1858–1859) and the title character in Ole Lukøje (1860). In 1865, she made her adult debut in the play Et Enfoldigt Pigebarn.

From 1865 to 1867, Rosa performed at Folketeatret in Christiania and toured Sweden, appearing in Gothenburg and Stockholm—expanding her reputation as a talented Scandinavian stage actress. She then joined Theodor Cortes’ traveling theatre company, showcasing her versatility across Norway.

In 1869, her performance as Gudrun in Christian Monsen’s Gudbrandsdølerne at the Bergen theatre received praise for its sincerity and emotional depth. This role cemented her reputation in Norwegian dramatic arts.

Rosa and her husband toured extensively with F. A. Cetti’s company from 1871 to 1872, performing in Trondheim, Bergen, and Tinn, bringing live theatre to regional Norway. She continued performing with E. J. Hafgren’s company at Møllergatens Theatre and returned to Christiania Theatre from 1874 to 1876.

A skilled opera singer, Rosa Asmundsen expanded her stage repertoire with musical roles, including Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro. These performances positioned her as a significant figure in the early history of opera in Norway