Elin Hökby

For the past year, I have been suffering from The House of Nobility (Riddarhuset) fever. It all started when I stumbled upon this irresistible image of two lions with lipstick-red claws holding a shield, Sweden’s National Coat of Arms. The lions are dressed to their toes and must have had enough of holding coats of arms for decades. In Riddarhuset in Gamla Stan, you can revel in more than 3000 coats of arms with different animals. In my degree project, I drew a pattern where the animals break free. They have confiscated the royal regalia and are preparing for a life outside Riddarhuset. The inspiration for the pattern comes from Riddarhuset, the Royal Armoury and Treasury at Slottet, Stockholm.